---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: [email protected] Date: Tue, 1 Dec 2015 13:43:03 +0530 Subject: Fwd: Sambhavana Statement against support rally for the passage of RPD bill To: [email protected]
yent fruu my iPhone Begin forwarded message: > From: pratap bisht <[email protected]> > Date: 1 December 2015 at 12:20:03 PM IST > To: Sambhavana Group <[email protected]> > Subject: Sambhavana Statement against support rally for the passage of RPD > bill > > Public Statement by Sambhavana Organization on the support rally by > some DPOs for RPD Bill:-- > > We are deeply disturbed to learn that various Disabled Persons > Organisations (DPOs) are planning a demonstration on December 3rd, > 2015 in support of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPD) bill > (which may be tabled in Rajya Sabha in the winter session of the > Parliament) without knowing and discussing its contents. In our > opinion, the demand for parliamentary debate prior to public > consultation amounts to garnering support for the existing format of > the Bill. In this context, we feel it essential to recall the > formation of All India Disability Alliance (AIDA), a joint forum > consisting of various DPOs to demand a legislation accommodating the > needs and aspirations of all disabilities without discrimination. > Sambhavana was a strong presence in its campaign in 2014 and had > worked vigorously to mobilise cross-sections of disabled people. The > strength of our campaign, which compelled the Government of the day to > forgo its intentions to bring in the legislation through an Ordinance, > was a collectivism achieved through democratic engagement and wide > consultation amongst all organisations who were the part of AIDA. > Following the initial success, however, we did not witness any > intention on the part of the Convener, AIDA, (Shri Santosh Kumar > Rungta of National Federation of The Blind), to steer ahead the joint > campaign. It is really beyond our comprehension that why no > consultation was facilitated by the AIDA Convener amongst member > organisations to inform the progress, if any, regarding the inclusion > of our demands in the bill! The decision to organize a support rally > on 3rd December 2015 by some DPOs in favour of the passage of the RPD > bill in the Parliament without any discussion raises some fundamental > questions: > Has any substantial change in the RPD Bill occurred since then? > Have all the serious points that we raised during our many rounds of > consultations among ourselves, as well as during our agitation against > the weak RPD bill, been included? > Has The present draft of the RPD bill with the suggestions of the > Standing Committee been put in the public domain for > consultation/deliberation? > Why no meeting of AIDA was organized to discuss the present development? > Questions such as these are very important and the disability > community owes an explanation from the Convener, AIDA, for this > non-transparent U-turn through bypassing the democratic process. > While the community all-in-all has been kept in dark regarding the > actual form in which the bill is being tabled in the upcoming > Parliament session, there are strong apprehensions about the inclusion > of many of our significant demands in the bill. If this happens, we > fear that the tireless efforts which has been put in by the Disabled > community through a momentous disability movement for an effective RPD > bill could be wasted and we may be thrown back in to the pre 1995 > era. Therefore we strongly feel that the occasion of the International > Day for Persons with Disabilities could have been best utilised by > once again regrouping and re- strengthening our campaign for a strong > and effective RPD bill. > It is therefore disappointing that a support rally has been planned > without any round of consultation or discussion amongst all the member > organisations. > In the light of such unfortunate developments, we wish to clarify that > Sambhavana is not a part of the support rally being organised on > December 3rd, 2015. The organisation, however, will keep striving for > an inclusive and progressive legislation for persons with disabilities > and will readily contribute to similar efforts by > individuals/organisations championing the rights of the disabled. > > Sambhavana Organization > > > -- > Dr. Pratap Bisht Mobile +919818685889 -- Avinash Shahi Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
