In a report tabled in Parliament, the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment cited the government's own data to state that there was a shortfall of 1,58,598 professionals in the disability sector in 2012.
Expressing concern, the panel chaired by Hemanand Biswal said that the primary reason for the shortfall was the poor compensation and pay packages given to those working in the sector.
It recommended that the Department of Disability Affairs take up with the HRD Ministry and state governments that matter of giving good pay packages to those working in the disability sector.
To encourage more young people to take up this noble profession, these workers should have good promotional avenues on a par with those employed in normal schools and universities, the panel added.
The panel stressed on the need for a legislation for persons with disabilities which would be in consonance with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities.