Provisions for Persons with Disabilities:

•    The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwDs) Act 2016:

Government of India has passed "The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill - 2016" to replace the existing PwD Act, 1995. The types of disabilities have been increased from existing 7 to 21 in which for the first time Acid Attack Victims, Blood diseases like Haemophilia & Sickle Cell Anemia among others have been included. 

Assam State Rules under Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 for implementation of RPWD Act 2016 is in the final draft stage. 

•    Persons with Disabilities Act 1995
Govt. of Assam has declared all District Employment Exchanges as "Special Employment Exchange for Disabilities" as per "PwD ACT, 1995" [THE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES, PROTECTION OF RIGHTS AND FULL PARTICIPATION) ACT, 1995].

•    Registration in Employment Exchanges:
Persons With Disability are registered on form X-1 in accordance with the procedure laid down in NESM. A brief explanatory note of the applicant’s disability is made on the X-1 and the appropriate medical code letter is inserted at the top right-hand corner of the Index Card. The category to which the applicant belongs is also entered at the top middle of the Index Card.

•    Maintaining a record of Registration in Employment Exchanges:
A book register X-63 containing a running record of registrations is maintained in all Employment Exchanges along with the details of the PwD candidates.

•    Rendering of Statistical Returns:
All Employment Exchanges are required to submit work done in respect of all physically handicapped applicants etc. in prescribed format / return E.S.2.5 (Half Yearly). 

In this return, data pertaining to five categories of Persons with Disabilities are recorded – Blind, Deaf & Dumb, Orthopedically, Respiratory Disorder, Negative Leprosy persons.

•    Placement Assistance for PwDs:
One of the integral function of National Employment Service to provide special placement assistance to persons with disabilities covered under the PwD Act 1995. The aim is to assist a disabled person to undertake work of which he is capable and to secure his satisfactory adjustment to the work. A physical impairment may limit a person’s choice of occupations, however, in no case it constitutes a bar in getting gainful employment.

At present, placement assistance is confined to persons with visual impairment, hearing impairment, and locomotor disabilities and negative leprosy patients as per provisions under the PwD Act 1995.