Reservations for differently abled a rarity in aided schools in Kerala
The Hindu
‘Managements citing absence of provisions in KER for appointment of differently abled persons’
Reservations for differently abled teachers are a rarity in aided schools in Kerala despite a Supreme Court order and Government directives.
Three per cent reservation was mandatory for them under the People With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, from February 7, 1996. Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the quota was raised to 4% from April 19, 2017, with retrospective effect.
According to K.N. Anand, vice president of Differently Abled Association, aided school managements have not been following the provisions, claiming that the Kerala Education Rules (KER) do not have provisions for appointment of differently abled persons. Though the Social Justice Department issued an order in November 2018 to protect the rights of differently abled persons, a section of managements approached the Supreme Court against it.