Govt Reserves 4% Housing Quota for Disabled Central Employees

4% Housing Quota: The Centre has implemented a 4% reservation in the allotment of General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) for its employees with qualifying disabilities. With this move, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs aims to enhance accessibility and ensure equal opportunity in government housing.

According to the ministry’s statement, all central government employees with benchmark disabilities, as defined under Section 34 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016, will now receive priority in GPRA allotment. These benchmark disabilities include blindness, low vision, hearing impairment, locomotor disabilities, cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack injuries, and muscular dystrophy.

According to official data, the central government currently manages approximately 109,474 residential units under the General Pool Residential Accommodation (GPRA) system, spread across 347 colonies in 61 cities across India. Under the new policy, the government will now reserve 4,379 of these housing units for eligible employees with benchmark disabilities.

Moreover, the announcement states that these eligible employees will receive priority over the general unified waiting list, both for initial housing allotments and for requests to change accommodations. The government defines a benchmark disability, as per Section 2(r) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, as a condition where a person has at least 40% of a specified disability, whether measurable or not, as certified by the competent authority.

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Ministry of Housing Response:

Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar called the project a historic step toward inclusive governance, emphasizing that it demonstrates the government’s commitment to providing equal opportunities for all. He added that the initiative aligns with the broader vision of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas. Furthermore, the government introduced this ruling as part of the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, which aims to foster a barrier-free and accessible environment for people with disabilities.

Meanwhile, an official from the Ministry of Housing explained that the government will manage these allocations through its Automatic System of Allotment (ASA). To participate, eligible applicants must submit their bids each month via the eSampada portal under the newly established Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category.