message begins: All India Disability Alliance Plot No. 21, Sector-VI, M.B. Road,
Hon. Coordinator: Sr. Adv. Shri. S. K. Rungta Pushp Vihar, New Delhi - 110017 Mob: 9312607540 Phone: 011-29562316, 29562318 Fax : 011-29564198 [email protected] Dated: 13.3.2014 Dear All, At the outset allow me to congratulate you all for our joint success in the first phase of struggle against the passage of the RPD Bill 2014 without debate and in a hurry. As the coordinator of the Alliance I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to one and all as part of the Alliance for their valuable support and contribution and guidance in this long and tough struggle. Unfortunately, this phase of the struggle was marked by initial coming together of disability organizations and activists and thereafter breaking the unity by some for the reasons best known to them. I am sure that none of us in the Alliance would have liked this unfortunate division but in the larger interest, we collectively decided to combat this unfortunate happening. No doubt, the struggle would have been less difficult if disability sector would have remained united but I personally feel that the positive aspect of this unfortunate demonstration of division in the disability sector has also provided an opportunity to send a clear message to the political circles that disabled are awakened and are able to make right decisions on the issues concerning them. Our success in the struggle has demolished this perception of political and bureaucratic circles that whatever they prescribed for us, will be accepted by us as an act of kindness and favour by them to us. I have tried to keep all of you posted and updated on various actions taken and developments during the struggle. I would like to recognize that every leader of the Alliance from any part of the country made their valuable contributions either in the form of sending mails and communications at different political levels, lobbying with the political leaders, actively participating in the rally, dharnas and fast unto death, managing print, electronic and social media, giving valuable guidance, advice and formulizing strategies with me as thinktank for the struggle. I would be failing in my duty if I do not recognize and express my gratitude to my following members whose sacrifice need to be mentioned and recognized specially:- Mr. Radheshyam & Prakash Ram Who undertook fast unto death for 6 days during the crucial period of Govt.'s repeated threats to force the passage of Bill in Rajya Sabha without debate. Mr. Ram Karan who sustained an eye injury resulting into loss of residual vision along with Shri Awdhesh Gupta, Babloo Singh, Sarbjeet Singh, Mohit Madeshia etc. who also sustained injuries during lathi charge by police on our processionists outside AICC Office in Delhi on 27.2.2014. After our success in forestalling of the Bill, we have to discharge a greater responsibility to take the struggle to a logical conclusion by presenting a joint stand for amendment in the Bill as introduced in the Parliament and pending consideration before the Standing committee. In view of this I propose the following actions for consideration and our collective decision: We must prepare a list of issues which need to be addressed by the Standing Committee. After listing out those issues, we must try to use those issues in the coming Lok Sabha Election and try to cover as many Constituencies as possible by sharing our responsibilities among ourselves to raise and discuss these issues with all candidates of all recognized political parties of each Constituency. For this purpose, if each one of you agreed to this course of action, may I request you to send the issues identified by your respective organization latest by 29.3.2014 so that the same may be consolidated and one document may be prepared for onward circulation among Alliance partners and lobbying with the candidates. We may also endeavour to translate this document in Hindi and in the regional languages depending on the State which we ultimately intend to target. I would also like to request each one of you to simultaneously indicate the list of Constituencies that your organization volunteers to take responsibility for this purpose by 29.3.2014. We propose to hold a National Consultation of all Alliance partners on 25th and 26th of April 2014 in Delhi. Mr. Rajiv Raturi on behalf of HRLN has very graciously tried to arrange some funding for this Consultation and he has been gracious enough to organize this Consultation in partnership with the Alliance. Details are being worked out which will be intimated to you very soon. However, at least one representative from each of the Alliance is expected to participate in this consultation. I would like to conclude this mail by once again thanking you all for active engagement in this struggle and assure you that we will continue work together until our objectives are achieved. Thanking you, Yours sincerely, S.K. RUNGTA Coordinator The AIDA is an Alliance of Organizations working on disability rights including: All India Confederation of the Blind, Deafenabled, Delhi University Physically Challenged Teachers Association, Human Rights Law Network, Indian Association of Special Education and Rehabilitation, National Association for the Blind India, National Federation of the Blind, PARIVAAR (National Confederation of Parent's Organizations for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities), Rashtrikya Viklang Manch, Saksham, Handicapped Welfare Federation, Tamilnadu Disability Rights Alliance, Association of Challenged People and Bethany Society Meghalaya -- Ajay Arora phd research scholar Centre for the Study of Law and Governance JNU Nelson Mandela Marg New Delhi India 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..
