Four organizations representing Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Meghalaya have joined forces to form the Meghalaya Disability People Organization (MDPO). This unified state-level body was established to amplify the voices of the disabled community and address what they describe as a systemic failure by the state government to uphold the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act 2016 and the Constitution of India.
MDPO President Jitendra Dkhar highlighted a disturbing trend where PwD categories are reportedly “disappearing” from recruitment processes handled by the Meghalaya Public Service Commission (MPSC) and District Selection Committees. Dkhar emphasized that this is not a technical oversight but a direct erasure of the legal status of disabled individuals. The organization is demanding immediate clarity on how vacancies are identified and advertised, insisting that a distinct PwD category be maintained throughout all hiring stages.
Transparency regarding the state’s roster system is a primary concern for the MDPO. The group is seeking a clear breakdown of how the 4 percent PwD reservation is distributed among the Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo communities. Furthermore, the introduction of a 2 percent reservation for sportspersons has raised alarms; the MDPO questions whether this allocation is being deducted from the existing PwD quota, asserting they will not tolerate any “hidden deductions” or dilution of their mandated rights.
The organization also criticized the state’s lack of infrastructure and inclusive education. Dkhar noted that while the government builds homes for the elderly and orphans, there is not a single dedicated government institution for PwDs in the state. General schools reportedly lack the trained staff and materials necessary to provide a truly inclusive environment. Additionally, the MDPO pointed out that digital systems for public assistance schemes are often broken or inaccessible, leaving disabled youth in “deep pain” due to daily hardships.
Citing Section 34 of the RPWD Act and Article 16 of the Constitution, the MDPO warned that if the government does not immediately address the roster system, clarify the sports quota, and fix recruitment categories, they will launch statewide public protests and hunger strikes. The group maintains that PwDs must be represented in any decision-making body that affects their lives.