Multi-tasking Staff jobs to be reserved for persons with intellectual disabilities

14th September 2022

The post of Multi-Tasking Staff, one of the most commonplace jobs in the Central Government, will now be reserved for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This has been ordered by the Disabilities Commissioner following a complaint made by the father of a person with intellectual disability in consultation with the Disability Law Initiative. The Staff Selection Commission, the central agency for recruitment to this post, issued a directive on 20th July 2022 to this effect, and about 35 vacancies are being reserved for this disability category in the 2022 recruitment cycle. The job of Multi-tasking Staff is particularly suited to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as it entails assisting in routine office work such as carrying of files and papers, physical maintenance of records, photocopying, maintaining the cleanliness of the office and other non-clerical work.

On 4th January 2021, the Central Government published the latest comprehensive list of jobs in the public sector that were identified as suitable for various categories of persons with disabilities. After this, it became legally mandatory for Central and State Governments and public sector enterprises to make reservations for these categories of persons with disabilities, whenever they advertised jobs on the list. The post of Multi-tasking Staff was identified as suitable for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).  However, the Staff Selection Commission issued an advertisement for almost four thousand vacancies in the post of Multi-tasking Staff (MTS) in 2021, without making reservation for persons with IDD.

In this regard, a complaint was made by the father of a person with intellectual disability, in consultation with the Disability Law Initiative, to the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD).  In its order dated 20th April 2022, the CCPD noted that frequent complaints are received against recruiting agencies for direct violation of the 4th January 2021 list.

 

The Chief Commissioner observed:

“These types of grievances are filed when the government establishment does not even refer to the list before issuing the vacancy notification/advertisement. Sometimes, this results into a situation where certain categories of divyangjan are barred from participating in the recruitment process even though the post advertised is identified suitable for them….

“This Court, after perusing the documents available on record and the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment list dated 04.01.2021 concludes that excluding divyangjan with Intellectual Disability is an act of discrimination with divyangjan. The post of MTS is identified suitable for divyangjan with ‘Intellectual Disability’. Hence the present Complaint (shows) a direct violation of the MoSJ&E list dated 04.01.2021.”

The Court of the Chief Commissioner directed that “The Respondent shall send a copy of this order to all the indenting establishments which shall earmark the vacancies for divyangjan with “Intellectual Disability” and shall re-notify the advertisement.”

In compliance of the order of the CCPD, the Staff Selection Commission has asked the Government establishments to earmark vacancies for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities for the post of Multi-tasking Staff. In its communication dated 20th July 2022, the Staff Selection Commission issued the following notification to all government establishments:

 

“CCPD vide ibid Order recommended that as per MoSJ&E Order dated 04.01.2021, all the indenting establishments shall earmark the vacancies for ‘Intellectual Disability’ for the post of MTS. Hence, you are requested to do the same and then report the vacancy to SSC (WR)”

As a consequence, about 35 vacancies in the post of Multi-tasking Staff are being reserved for this disability category in the 2022 recruitment cycle.

This comes as a major boost for employment of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Every year, the Staff Selection Commission advertises close to 3500 vacancies in the post of Multi-tasking Staff, of which 1%, or about 35 vacancies, will now be reserved for this category of persons. The job of multi-tasking staff is particularly suited to persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, as it entails assisting in routine office work. Besides emoluments, this post provides for health, retirement and pension benefits.

To see a copy of the orders of the CCPD and Staff Selection Commission, click here.

To see a copy of the 2022 advertisement for the Multi-tasking Staff post along with reservation for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, click here.