*February 7 , 2024*
In view of the forthcoming elections to the 18th Lok Sabha, the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) is sending the following note to all recognized political parties containing a set of issues from the disability perspective for inclusion in their manifestos. ******* *February 6, 2024* *President/General Secretary* *Of all Recognised Political Parties* *Dear Sir/Madam,* *Sub: Disability Inclusion in Manifesto* The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) is an affiliating body of state-level cross-disability organization working for the rights of the disabled in the country. Founded in 2010, NPRD affiliates are currently working in 12 states in the country. As the country is moving towards the 18th General Elections to the Lok Sabha, we would like to place before you some issues specific to persons with disabilities that we think should form part of your manifesto for the elections. You will appreciate that the disabled are one of the most discriminated and marginalized sections of our society, overwhelming majority of whom come from economically weak families. Needless to add that disability accentuates poverty and impacts families and individuals in multiple ways. The issues outlined below have been identified based on the inputs received from grassroots level members and activities. These, you will appreciate are not exhaustive but include the core demands that have been agitating the vast mass of the disabled community in the country. We hope you will consider these issues for inclusion in your Party’s election manifesto. We would also request that the manifesto be made available in accessible formats. *(Muralidharan)* *General Secretary* *For Inclusion in Manifesto of Political Parties* 1. The issues of persons with disabilities need to be recognised as cross-sectoral. In the light of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPD Act), the design of various existing programmes should be relooked and be aligned with the objective of RPD Act, for effectiveness. A life-cycle approach should be adopted in this context. 2. In line with gender budgeting, disability budgeting should be introduced. 5% allocations across ministries should be earmarked for the disabled. 3. Enhanced allocations to be made to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), including for fulfilling the various mandates of the RPD Act and also under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare for implementation of the Mental Healthcare Act, 2017 and various mental health programmes. 4. It is crucial in this context to have disaggregated data. 5. Enhanced allocations for making built infrastructure and IT services accessible; more allocations for meeting the “accessible India” targets set for railways as also other modes of transport; more allocations for making education accessible including for promoting augmentative and alternative modes. Meet the deadlines mandated by the RPD Act for accessibility compliance. 6. Subsidies be provided to the needy for modification of existing houses to make them accessible. 7. Remove GST on aids and appliances. 8. Certification: Implement the CRPD Committee’s concluding recommendations: “Reform the guidelines for assessing and certifying disability to bring them into line with the human rights model of disability, ensuring that organizations of persons with disabilities are involved in the reform, that multiple assessments do not create an undue burden for applicants, and that policies and programmes shift from care, treatment and protection towards the removal of environmental and attitudinal barriers, which prevent equality and inclusion”. 9. Extend reservations to unaided higher education institutions in the private sector. 10. Reservations in employment to be extended to the private sector. Alternatively, penal provisions, or, disincentives like additional cess for establishments with a substantial workforce for not employing disabled persons (like in France, Germany etc), be introduced. *11. *Mandated days of work should be provided to all disabled who register under MNREGA and full wages be provided to them. Stop Aadhar-based payment system. 12. Uniform disability pension of a minimum of Rs 5000/- linked with the minimum wages/cost of living in the state. Depending on the severity and support mechanisms required the amount should be scaled higher. Central Government should drastically enhance its share from the current Rs. 300/- 13. An equivalent amount be given to caregivers by introducing a caregiver allowance. 14. Taking into consideration disability related costs, additional allocations, not less than 25% mandated by the RPD Act in similar schemes should be made. 15. AAY cards be provided to all disabled, as directed by the Delhi High Court. 16. Free and universal health coverage for all disabled; health as a right. 17. Support to women with disabilities for livelihood and housing as well as for exercising sexual and reproductive rights; priority to disabled women in all schemes and programmes. 18. Amend RPD Act to bring under its ambit unrecognized disabilities and rare diseases. 19. Remove discriminatory provisions from the RPD Act like in Sec. 3 (3); Sec. 20(1) and 34(1) that legitimise discrimination on grounds of disability; Amend Article 15 & 16 of the Constitution to include “disability” as a ground on which discrimination is prohibited. 20. Harmonise all laws in consonance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 21. Extend concessions to all recognized disabilities in all trains. Railways to accept UDID as a valid document. 22. Finalise and release the new Disability Policy taking into consideration the inputs received from the disability community. 23. Equal opportunities to be provided for all types of sports for disabled persons. 24. Appoint fulltime Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD) & Chairperson of the National Trust; set up regional offices of the CCPD. 25. Lastly, involve disabled persons and their organisations in all decision-making concerning them. -- 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.. Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "AccessIndia" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/a/accessindia.org.in/d/msgid/accessindia/CAL7vCQ3tbvm%3D_Qz1q7T97H_QUvqx_eaAOxMpng9-%2Bd6zVhVF6Q%40mail.gmail.com.
