About Us

According to the Census 2011, the total population in Meghalaya is 29,66,889 (Twenty-nine lakhs sixty-six thousand eight hundred eighty-nine) and out of which the total number of Persons with Disabilities recorded is 44,317. Out of the total population of persons with disabilities, 23,326 are male and 20,991 are female. These include persons with visual, hearing, speech, locomotor disabilities, mental illness, mental retardation, multiple disabilities and other disabilities. The Office of the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities is expected to exercise strict monitoring and evaluation and adherence to the programmes for persons with disabilities with the implementation of the new Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. The office is mandated to coordinate the work of the Government Departments, monitor the utilization of funds disbursed by the Central Government and take steps to safeguard the rights and provisions made available to persons with disabilities and play a quasi-judicial role in all cases arising out of non-implementation and non-committal approach of Government and non-governmental agencies with the provision of the Act.

At present, the office is functioning with one Deputy Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, one Assistant Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities drawn on deputation from Social Welfare, one Private Secretary, one Process Server, one Driver, Chowkidar and two DEO on wages and functions under the supervision of the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.

As per sections 1 and 2 of Chapter I of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the Government of Meghalaya is implementing the provisions of the Act. It has adopted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and has notified the same vide Notification No.LL (B).75/2015/86 dated 12.09.2017. The Meghalaya Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017 was notified on 29th December 2017 and published the same in the gazette of Meghalaya on 2nd January, 2018. The Meghalaya State Cabinet on 16.05.2019 approved the Meghalaya State Policy of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. Under this new Act, the type of disability has been raised from 7 to 21.