---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: National Platform For The Rights of the Disabled <[email protected]> Date: Thu, 1 Dec 2016 11:53:21 +0530 Subject: RPD Bill -- PIB release -- for information To:
Government of India Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment 30-November-2016 19:38 IST Cabinet Approves Proposal to Make Important Changes in The Rights of Persons With Disabilities Bill, 2014 During Ongoing Winter Session Of Parliament The Cabinet approved the proposal of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to make important changes in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 during the ongoing winter Session of Parliament. The new Bill with amendments proposes to repeal the existing Persons with Disabilities (Equal opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. India signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and subsequently ratified the same on 1st October, 2007. The Convention came into effect on 3rd May 2008. Being a signatory to the Convention, India has an international obligation to comply with the provisions of the Convention. Keeping in view the fact that the existing Act of 1995 is not fully in conformity with the UNCRPD, a need has been felt to have a rights-based legislation with a strong institutional mechanism. The Bill had been mooted by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment after extensive consultation with various stakeholders, State Governments/UTs and concerned Central Ministries and Departments. Now after another round of consultations and inputs from the Standing Committee of Parliament, Amendments have been proposed. This shall ensure enjoyment of rights by the Persons with Disabilities. As a result, now the salient features of the proposed Bill with amendments are: i. Responsibility has been cast upon the appropriate governments to take effective measures to ensure that the persons with disabilities enjoy their rights equally with others. ii. Disability has been defined based on an evolving and dynamic concept. iii. The types of disabilities have been increased from existing 7 to 21 and the Central Government will have the power to add more types of disabilities. The 21 disabilities are given below:- 1. Blindness 2. Low-vision 3. Leprosy Cured persons 4. Hearing Impairment (deaf and hard of hearing) 5. Locomotor Disability 6. Dwarfism 7. Intellectual Disability 8. Mental Illness 9. Autism Spectrum Disorder 10. Cerebral Palsy 11. Muscular Dystrophy 12. Chronic Neurological conditions 13. Specific Learning Disabilities 14. Multiple Sclerosis 15. Speech and Language disability 16. Thalassemia 17. Hemophilia 18. Sickle Cell disease 19. Multiple Disabilities 20. Acid Attack victim 21. Parkinson's disease iv. Hence, Speech and Language Disability and Specific Learning Disability have been added for the first time. Acid Attack Victims have been included. New categories within three blood disorders, Thalassemia, Hemophilia and Sickle Cell disease have been added. v. Additional benefits have been provided for persons with benchmark disabilities and those with high support needs. vi. Every child with benchmark disability between the age group of 6 and 18 years shall have the right to free education. vii. For strengthening the Prime Minister's Accessible India Campaign, stress on ensuring accessibility in public buildings has to be ensured in a prescribed time-frame. viii. Increase in reservation from 3% to 4% for students with benchmark disabilities in higher educational institutions has been proposed. ix. It has been proposed to Increase in reservation from 3% to 4% in Government jobs for certain persons or class of persons with benchmark disability. x. The Bill provides for grant of guardianship by District Court under which there will be joint decision – making between the guardian and the persons with disabilities. xi. Broad based Central & State Advisory Boards on Disability have been proposed to be set up as policy making bodies. xii. Strengthening of the Office of Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities and State Commissioners of Disabilities has been proposed, which will act as regulatory bodies and Grievance Redressal agencies and also monitor implementation of the Act. xiii. National Fund has been proposed to be created to provide financial support to the persons with disabilities. xiv. The Bill provides for penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities. It is expected that the proposed rights based legislation with more Rights and Entitlements and strong monitoring agencies at the National and State Levels will achieve empowerment and inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the society in a satisfactory manner. -- 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. 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