The Bombay high court on Monday directed the state government to factor in foreign exchange fluctuations while making budgetary allocations for the purchase of imported devices for disabled employees. The judges said the excuse of foreign exchange fluctuations cannot be a ground for not providing government employees with assistive devices.
A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice MS Sanklecha heard petitions by visually impaired persons, Nilima Surve and Prachi Shirsekar, for proper implementation of the Persons With Disabilities Act. In 2011, the HC had directed state government to provide special gadgets and equipment within a period of three months to all employees in government undertakings.
An affidavit by the social justice and welfare department stated that out of 8,244 employees who had asked for devices, some 4,511 have been provided with the same and an order is placed for another 1001 devices. The judges questioned why order was not placed for the remaining disabled employees. Government’s advocate G W Mattos replied that orders were not being placed because devices for the blind and those for low-vision are required to be imported and prices of such devices keep fluctuating.
ref : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Devices-for-disabled-Dollar-fluctuation-excuse-irks-HC/articleshow/32619439.cms