Equal Opportunity Policy for Persons with Disabilities

2. (a) Facilities and amenities to be provided to Persons with Disabilities to enable them to effectively discharge their duties in the establishment

• Barrier strategies are applied.
• Barrier free toilets and movement is seamless for disabled.
• Lift which is disabled friendly is provided.
• Courtyard which access the two levels of the ground floor has ramp.

(b) List of posts identified suitable for Persons with Disabilities in the establishment

Directorate of Higher Education uses the notified list of posts identified by DEPwD vide its Notification No. 38-16/2020-DD-III dated 04/01/2021 for posts suitable for being held by PwBDs and the physical requirement for all such posts to give effect to reservation to PwDs.

Accordingly, lists of posts identified till date suitable for Persons with Disabilities in this Directorate for Group 'C' posts (Direct & Promotion) are attached as Annexure 'A' & 'B' respectively and for Group 'A' posts (Direct) are attached as Annexure 'C'.

(c) The manner of selection of Persons with Disabilities for various posts, post-recruitment and pre-promotion training, preference in transfer and posting, special leave, preference in allotment of residential accommodation if any, and other facilities

Manner of selection of Persons with Disabilities for various posts, post-recruitment and pre-promotion training:

As regards to the manner of selection of PwD for various posts, post recruitment, the same is done by this Directorate in terms of O.M. No. 36035/02/2017-Estt(Res) dated 15/01/2018 and O.M. No. 36012/1/2020-Estt.(Res.-II) dated 17/05/2022 of Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, Department of Personnel, New Delhi circulated by Directorate of Social Welfare, Govt. of Goa and also as per the prevailing guidelines issued from time to time.

As regards to Group 'A' posts, recruitment is done through Goa Public Service Commission and there is no mode of promotion for the said posts.

Preference in transfer and posting:

Persons with Disabilities are exempted from the rotational transfer policy/transfer and allowed to continue in the same job, where they would have achieved the desired performance. Further, preference in place of posting at the time of transfer/promotion is given to the persons with disability subject to the administrative constraints. The practice of considering choice of place of posting in case of persons with disabilities is continued. To the extent feasible, they are retained in the same job, where their services could be optimally utilized. However, no such requests have been received till date from any Persons with Disabilities employee.

Special leave:

1. Persons with Disabilities employees are granted 04 Special Casual Leave in a year for specific requirements related to their disability in addition to 12 days Casual Leaves as against 08 for other employees.
2. Provision of 10 days Special Casual Leave in a calendar year subject to exigencies of work for the differently abled employees with disabilities for participating in Conference/Seminars/Trainings/Workshop related to disability and development to be specified by Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment.

Preference in allotment of residential accommodation:

Request for allotment of residential accommodation for Persons with Disabilities will be forwarded to General Administration Department, Secretariat, Porvorim with due recommendation to give preference in providing accessible accommodation near their place of posting preferably allotment of ground floor accommodation. However, no such requests have been received till date from any Persons with Disabilities employee.

Any other Facility:

Persons with disabilities are paid Double Transport Allowance.

(d) Provisions for assistive devices, barrier-free accessibility and other provisions for Persons with Disabilities

• Barrier strategies are applied.
• Barrier free Toilets and movement is seamless for disabled.
• Lift which is disabled friendly is provided.
• Courtyard which access the two level of the ground floor has ramp.
• No other assistive devices are provided, since the premises is not occupied yet.

(e) Appointment of liaison officer by the establishment to look after the recruitment of Persons with Disabilities and provisions of facilities and amenities for such employees

Under Secretary (Higher Education) vide Order No. 1/31/2017-DHE/2998 dated 21/12/2017 is appointed as the Liaison Officer by the establishment to look after the recruitment of Persons with Disabilities.