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 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..
