dear friends, It is indeed a happy augury that the emergence of a national disability alliance of a genuine nature is very much on the cards. To begin with, this alliance is likely to be around the issue of the much talked about RPD Bill. Thus, the writing is on the wall for those handfuls who operate under the banner of a virtually fake and failed group; and, if the developments in the last few weeks over the RPD Bill are anything to go by, poetic justice, particularly for that self-proclaimed self-styled five-star activist is well in sight. While applauding, with utmost sincerity, the timely intervention and initiative of some very well-meaning individuals in putting together a well-knit alliance of a truly representative character, I would take this opportunity of putting together a few suggestions emanating from my random reflections in the larger interests of our common cause. In the first place, the leadership, or for that matter, the convenership, or by whatever nomenclature it is called must rotate at specified intervals preferrably, amongst persons belonging to different categories of disabilities unlike the other group (name of the group being anybody's guess), which, for all practical purposes, is owned or should I say proprietored, by one individual for the las so many years, and whose think tank or coterie does not comprise any person with disability barring he himself. Secondly, the ensuing national disability alliance must work in a spirit of understanding and accommodation come what may. It is also important to recognise that cross disability and uni-disability dimensions of the disability movement are and should be seen as complimentary and not contradictory; and that they can and should coexist in a coherent manner. Thirdly, we must zealously guard against any likely efforts at sabotaging the alliance by vested interests including by that infamous polarising force (his identity being obvious), who not only has divided the sector nationally; but has worked overtime to drive a wedge amongst the constituents of the International Disability Alliance; so much so that his fights with Yanis, the IDA chair and other constituents has long been out in the open; and, friends, the outcome of it all we know and will also get to know more perhaps in the days ahead. Incidentally, Yanis, the Chair of International Disability Alliance happens to be a blind person.I am mentioning these facts with a heavy heart and under a painful necessity so that we may take note of it all. The silverlining is that a sizeable chunk of the disability sector is against the passage of this flawed bill --- hence, the urgency to press for addressing the flaws and inadequacies the said Bill is replete with. I would also suggest that we also need to regularly monitor some relevant international E forumms like the IDA UNCRPD forum.
Best regards, Poonam. 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..
