Reservation for Persons with Disabilities in Railways

Reservation for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Railways – Government to ensure adequate representation as per Supreme Court’s order: Rajya Sabha QA

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

RAJYA SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 615
ANSWERED ON 05.02.2021

RESERVATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN RAILWAYS

615. PROF. MANOJ KUMAR JHA:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

(a) the number of Persons with Disabilities appointed in Railways during last three years and the current year, Zone-wise;

(b) whether cases of violation of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 in Railways, have come to the notice of the Government during the said period, and if so, the details thereof, Zone-wise;

(c) whether Railways have implemented Supreme Court’s order for extending three per cent reservation to Persons with Disabilities and if so, the details thereof, Zone-wise; and

(d) the other steps taken by Government to ensure adequate representation of Persons with Disabilities in Railways?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

(a) to (d) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 615 BY PROF. MANOJ KUMAR JHA ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 05.02.2021 REGARDING RESERVATION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN RAILWAYS

(a) Zone-wise detail of the number of Persons with Disabilities appointed in Railways during last three years and the current year is as under:

Zonal Railway	Number of Persons with Disabilities appointed in Railways
Zonal Railway	2017-18	2018-19	2019-20	2020-21
Central Railway	114	62	85	39
Eastern Railway	36	31	20	4
East Central Railway	20	44	97	33
East Coast Railway	24	40	07	0
Northern Railway	12	18	147	58
North Central Railway	32	14	76	43
North Eastern Railway	05	49	14	7
North East Frontier Railway	33	01	70	10
North Western Railway	11	15	13	15
Southern Railway	39	1	94	2
South Central Railway	9	196	48	1
South Eastern Railway	0	0	94	2
South East Central Railway	11	16	11	14
South Western Railway	29	09	32	07
Western Railway	32	109	190	70
West Central Railway	10	16	55	9
Total	417	621	1053	314

No, No cases of violation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016 (which is the new Act in place of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995) have come to Ministry of Railways’ notice.
Yes, Sir. Zone-wise details of recruitment are provided in part (a)
In addition to provision of reservation, PwBD candidates are given following exemptions/relaxations and facilities in open market recruitment to non-gazetted posts on Railways:
- Such candidates are charged a lower amount of ₹ 250 as exam fee, compared to ₹ 500 from non-exempted category and that too is refunded if the candidate appears in the written
There is a provision of giving relaxation of up to 2 marks to PwBD candidates in the minimum qualifying marks for each category, , UR (Unreserved)/SC (Scheduled Caste)/ ST(Scheduled Tribe)/OBC (Other Backward Classes).
Upper age limit relaxation of 10 years is given in addition to community-wise age
Exemption is given from appearing in Physical Efficiency Test (PET) conducted for Level-1 recruitment
PwBD candidates of several disability categories are also provided assistance of Scribes for appearing in recruitment

Source: Rajya Sabha