People suffering from blood disorders like thalassemia, haemophilia and sickle cell disease are not eligible for reservation in government jobs under the Persons with Disabilities category, the Social Justice Ministry told Parliament on Tuesday.
The three diseases were included in the list of disabilities under the Right to Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016, which had led activists to believe at the time that benefits like reservation would follow. However, with them being kept out of the ambit of reservation, activists say it defeats the entire purpose of having included them in the list.
Minister of State for Social Justice Pratima Bhoumik said that as per Section 34 of the 2016 law, “persons with blood disorders including Thalassemia are not eligible for the benefit of reservation in jobs in Government Establishments”.
