Office of the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities

About Us

The Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, West Bengal has been set up under Section 60 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights & Full Participation) Act, 1995 and has been mandated to take steps to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities. The State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities is Smt. Ranu Bhattacharya, WBCS (Exe.).

As per Census 2011, there were 2,17,406 (2.21% of the Population) persons with disabilities in the State of West Bengal.

This was published on 1st January 1996 and was notified on 7th February, 1996. The Persons with Disabilities Act basically enlists facilities that persons with different types of disabilities would be entitled to and the responsibilities and obligations which are placed on the Government of India, State Governments, local bodies and establishments in this behalf. It broadly includes measures for prevention and early detection of disabilities, education, employment, social security, research and manpower development, barrier-free access and preferences and facilities that are available to such persons and the action which needs to be taken to avoid any discrimination against persons with disabilities.

It has been provided in the Act that there shall be a Chief Commissioner at the Govt. of India level and a Commissioner in each State of the Union/UT,

Section 61 - Powers of the Commissioner - The Commissioner within the State shall -

1. Co-ordinate with the departments of the State Government for the programmes and schemes, for the benefit of persons with disabilities;
2. Monitor the utilization of funds disbursed by the State Government;
3. Take steps to safeguard the rights and facilities made available to persons with disabilities;
4. submit reports to the State Government on the implementation of the Act at such intervals as that Government may prescribe and forward a copy thereof to the Chief Commissioner.

Commissioner to look into complaints with respect to matters relating to deprivation of rights of persons with disabilities - Without prejudice to the provisions of section 61 the Commissioner may of his own motion or on the application of any aggrieved person or otherwise look into complaints with respect to matters relating to -

1. Deprivation of rights of persons with disabilities;
2. Non-implementation of laws, rules, bye-laws, regulations, executive orders, guidelines or instructions made or issued by the appropriate Governments and the local authorities for the welfare and protection of rights of persons with disabilities, and take up the matter with the appropriate authorities.

The Commissioneris vested with the power of a civil court under the Code of Civil Procedure. The proceedings before the Commissioner shall be judicial proceedings within the meaning of Section 193 and 228 of the IPC and it shall be deemed to be a Civil Court for this purpose.

It will be our pleasure to respond to any query or suggestions.
For any information, please contact:
Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, West Bengal
Subhanna BhawanDF Block, Sector 1, Bidhannagar, Kolkata
West Bengal 700064
Telefax :033-2359 7997
Email: com.disabilitywb@gmail.com