UNI

Bangalore, Jun 30: The Karnataka Government has assured in the Legislative Council to take measures to ensure five per cent job reservation for physically-challenged people.

Replying to a question raised by JD(S) member B R Gurudev about the Government measures for rehabilitating physically-challenged people, Women and Child Welfare Minister H K Kumaraswamy said the Government had identified as many as 374 backlog vacancies, which would be filled by handicapped people.

Stating that over 3,20,000 of the 9,40,000 such people identified in the State were being paid a monthly allowance of Rs 200 each, he said Rs 105 crore was earmarked for their welfare during 2006-07 as against Rs 40 crore last year.

The State Government had also set apart a special assistance fund of Rs three crore, besides proposing to form Self Help Groups for them, he informed.

Arun Machaiah (independent), who also participated in the discussion, alleged that the Union Government had taken serious exception at the Karnataka Government not ensuring three per cent job quota for the physically-challenged.