Shillong, Oct. 29: The alleged denial of a 'certificate' from a village head to a physically challenged girl who wanted to avail of benefits from the Chief Minister's Social Assistance Scheme (CMSAS) has been brought to the notice of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

Kwit Kyrsian, the sordar (head) of Kynroh Nonglyer village in East Khasi Hills district, allegedly denied Marita Nongrum, 18, the certificate when she had approached him. The certificate is said to be mandatory for getting benefits under the scheme.

However, the village head allegedly refused to grant the certificate as the girl's father had exposed Kyrsian's role in denying public distribution system benefits to a family in the village. Even the girl's father approached Kyrsian but to no avail.

The incident earned the ire of the Meghalaya People's Human Rights Council (MPHRC) and the matter was reported to the NHRC.

'If one has to analyse from the human rights perspective under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Disabilities, the circumstances of this unpleasant incident is a clear denial and gross abuse of basic human rights of the physically challenged girl. It should be strongly condemned,' MPHRC chairman Dino D.G. Dympep said.

Taking cognisance of the incident, the council, in a petition to East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Sanjay Goyal, urged his office to depute a magistrate to conduct an immediate inquiry and take appropriate action to punish the culprit if the allegations are found to be true.

The scheme was launched in 2012 at Asanang in West Garo Hills. It offers financial assistance of Rs 500 per month to each beneficiary. There is no age bar for persons with disabilities and widows. To seek benefits, a woman has to be 58 years of age and a man 60.