*Disabled Rights Group (DRG)* *&*
*National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD)* 27th December, 2013 *PRESS STATEMENT* *On Speedy Enactment of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill* The Disabled Rights Group (DRG) and the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) express their dismay over the inordinate delay in introducing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill in Parliament. With India ratifying the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in 2007, it was expected that all the four disability specific legislations - the Mental Health Act 1987, Rehabilitation Council of India Act 1992, Persons with Disability (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995 and the National Trust Act 1999 would be harmonised with the provisions of the UNCRPD. However, while the Mental Health Care Bill has been introduced in Parliament, the Bill replacing the 1995 Disability Act is yet to be introduced. Though the process of drafting the new law started over four years back and has gone through various stages, the delay in introducing this legislation is inexplicable. More than a year has passed since the new draft of the proposed Bill was uploaded on the website of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment in September 2012. The Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment had given an assurance that the Bill would be introduced in the Winter Session of Parliament. The Union Cabinet gave its approval to the Draft Bill on 12th December, 2013. However, the abrupt end of the Parliament session on 18th December prevented the Bill from being tabled. DRG and NPRD demand that when the Parliament session is convened to pass the Vote on Account in January/February, this extremely important piece of legislation must also be taken up by both, Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha for enactment. We will be approaching all major political parties to garner support for this as we genuinely believe that the cause of disability is a totally non partisan and non political issue. As a mark of protest and to exert necessary pressure on the political leadership, while the entire world would be celebrating New Year’s eve, disability rights activists will hold Candle Light Vigils in various parts of the country on 31st December. In Delhi, the Vigil will be held outside the Vice President’s House as he is the Chairman and the custodian of the Rajya Sabha. The Vigil will start at 5 pm and continue till the Midnight hour (12.00 a.m). Hundreds of disabled people will converge from not only all over Delhi/NCR but nearby States as well. Various other programmes will also be held during the course of the month. * Javed Abidi Muralidharan* *Convener, DRG, Secretary, NPRD* Contact details for Javed Abidi: Email: abid...@gmail.com Mobile: 9811038018 Contact details for Muralidharan: Email: nprd...@gmail.com Mobile: 9868768543 -- -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EMAIL OVERLOAD? Choose digest email in your deliver settings instead. --- Archives @ https://groups.google.com/group/flight-wethepwd/topics --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "We the PwD of India...ON AIR TRAVEL" group. To post to this group, send email to flight-wethe...@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to flight-wethepwd+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/flight-wethepwd?hl=en --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "We the PwD of India...ON AIR TRAVEL" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to flight-wethepwd+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To post to this group, send email to flight-wethe...@googlegroups.com. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/flight-wethepwd. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out. Time to meet up again! Register for AccessIndia Convention 2014: http://accessindia.org.in/harish/convention.htm 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/accessindia@accessindia.org.in/ To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in 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..
