Enact Rihgts of Persons with Disabilities Bill
National Platform For The Rights of the Disabled (NPRD)
Disabled Rights Group (DRG)
&
National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD)
27th December, 2013
PRESS STATEMENT
On Speedy Enactment of Rights of Persons
with Disabilities Bill
The Disabled Rights Group (DRG) and the National Platform for the Rights
of the Disabled (NPRD) express their dismay over the inordinate delay in
introducing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill in Parliament.
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 1995 Disability Act 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. 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 & Empowerment in September 2012.
The Minister for Social Justice & 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 12th December, 2013. However, the abrupt end of the Parliament session on 18th December prevented the Bill from being tabled.
DRG and NPRD demand that when the Parliament session is convened to pass the
Vote on Account in January/February, this extremely important piece of legislation
must also be taken up by both, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for enactment.
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.
As a mark of protest and to exert necessary pressure on the political
leadership, while the entire world would be celebrating New Year’s eve,
disability rights activists will hold Candle Light Vigils in various parts of
the country on 31st December.
In Delhi, the
Vigil will be held outside the Vice President’s House as he is the Chairman and
the custodian of the Rajya Sabha. The Vigil will start at 5 pm
and continue till the Midnight hour (12.00
a.m). Hundreds of disabled people will converge from not only all over
Delhi/NCR but nearby States as well.
Various other programmes will also be held during the course of the month.
Javed Abidi Muralidharan
Convener, DRG, Secretary, NPRD
Contact details for Javed Abidi:
Email: abi...@gmail.com
Mobile: 9811038018
Contact details for Muralidharan:
Email: npr...@gmail.com
Mobile: 9868768543