NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Delhi Chief Secretary to speed up appointment of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD), a post that has been lying vacant for over a year. The panel has asked the top bureaucrat to submit an action taken report by July 11.
In its communication, the Commission also called for urgent action to address the severe shortage of healthcare staff at the Asha Kiran shelter home, which came under scrutiny last year after 28 inmates died within a month.
The directive comes after a complaint from a member of the NHRC’s Core Group on Disability – Dr Satendra Singh – who is also part of the advisory committee assisting the Delhi SCPD.
The complaint raised grave concerns over neglect of the rights and welfare of people with disabilities in the capital. Dr Singh highlighted the non-functioning of District Level Committees, absense of meetings of State Advisory Board on disability, and lack of policy implementation for individuals with high support needs.
The NHRC took cognisance of the matter on October 8, 2024, and asked the government to submit an action taken report within four weeks. In response, the Social Welfare Department submitted a report in February 2025, stating that the recruitment process for the SCPD was initiated on October 30, 2024 while the department secretary has been given interim charge of the position. The NHRC noted that while some progress has been made since its intervention, a response was triggered only after the panel took notice.
‘Asha Kiran staff being recruited’
The Delhi govt report stated that steps are being taken to recruit staff for Asha Kiran, and a proposal to hire workers on outsourced basis has been submitted to address the urgent lack of health workers. However, key posts including that of the Superintendent remain unfilled
Cabinet nod to aid disabled
A Cabinet note for a financial aid scheme for people with disabilities requiring high support was approved in October 2024.