Activists press for introducing Disabilities Bill in
Parliament soon
Disability rights groups on Friday expressed
dismay over the inordinate delay in introducing the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities Bill in Parliament even after it was approved by the Cabinet a few
days ago.
Activists of the Disabled Rights Group (DRG)
and the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NRPD) said they will
approach major political parties to convince them to introduce the Bill when Parliament
reconvenes.
"Parliament session will be convened to
pass the Vote on Account in January and February. This important piece of
legislation must also be taken up by both, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for
enactment," NPRD secretary Muralidharan said.
DRG convener Javed Abidi said, "We will
be approaching all major political parties to garner support for this as we
genuinely believe that the cause of disability is a totally non-partisan and
non-political issue."
Besides offering a comprehensive definition of
disability, the legislation which will replace the Persons with Disability
(Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995,
provides for an increase in the quota for persons with disabilities from three
per cent to five per cent in government jobs.
It also makes private companies accountable
for creating a disabled-friendly environment.
As a mark of protest, disability rights
activists will hold candle-light vigils in various parts of the country on
December 31, the members said. In Delhi, the vigil will be held outside the
Vice President's House as he is the chairman of Rajya Sabha, they said.
With India ratifying the UN Convention on
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2007, it was expected that all
the four disability-specific legislations -- the Mental Health Act 1987,
Rehabilitation Council of India Act 1992, Persons with Disability (Equal
Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995 and the
National Trust Act 1999 -- would be harmonised with the provisions of the
UNCRPD.
However, while the Mental Health Care Bill has
been introduced in Parliament, the bill replacing the Persons with Disabilities
Act of 1995 is yet to be introduced.
Though the process of drafting the new law
started over four years back and has gone through various stages, the delay in
introducing this legislation is inexplicable, Abidi said.
More than a year has passed since the new
draft of the proposed bill was uploaded on the website of the Ministry of
Social Justice and Empowerment in September 2012.
The Minister for Social Justice and
Empowerment had given an assurance that the bill would be introduced in the
winter session of Parliament. The Union Cabinet gave its approval to the draft
bill on December 12. However, the abrupt end of the Parliament session on
December 18 prevented the bill from being tabled.
