Disability Rights Activist Writes To Odisha CM Over SCPD Appointment

Bhubaneswar: Noted disability rights activist Jitendra K Biswal has voiced concern over the appointment of Director SSEPD Bratati Harichandan as the new State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) and urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to reverse the order.

In a letter to the Chief Minister, Biswal termed Harichandan’s appointment as a ‘blatant violation’ of the recent Supreme Court order for the appointment of an ‘independent’ Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

Biswal has pleaded for immediate reversal of the ‘blatantly unlawful decision’ of the SSEPD Department to appoint its own Director as the State Disability Commissioner.

He has sought steps for appointment of an eligible PwD as SCPD through a fair process as has been done at the Centre and in many States.

Biswal urged the Chief Minister to ensure a fair selection process to appoint an ‘independent’ eligible PwD as the new SCPD.

“Knowing your kind, humane and pro-people nature, Sir I hope you’ll be able to understand the pain behind our plea and immediately reverse the blatantly unlawful decision of the SSEPD Department to appoint its own Director as the State Disability Commissioner,” Biswal said in his letter, copy of which was released to media.