---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Santosh Kumar Rungta <santoshkumar.run...@gmail.com> Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 18:13:10 +0530 Subject: update on developments regarding RPD bill. To: poonam...@gmail.com
Dear friends! Here is the latest update on developments regarding the RPD Bill. The All-India Disability alliance has intensified its campaign to stall the promulgation of the RPD Bill through the ordinance route. As a part of the said campaign, the alliance held demonstrations at 10 Janpath in front of Congress President Mrs. Sonia Gandhi's residence as well as at Akbar Road in front of the Congress office yesterday. Opposing any prospective move to promulgate the RPD Bill in its present form, the demonstrators expressed the view that in case the Govt. is keen to promulgate the Bill through ordinance apparently in order to include the categories of persons with disabilities left out of the purview of the Current PWD Act, it could do so by amending the extant PWD Act; rather than by promulgating the RPD Bill in its present form which, inter alia, seeks to legitimize discrimination against persons with disabilities. Congress Treasurer Mr. Motilal Bora and Dr. Jaykumar, Secretary AICC met me yesterday in the wake of the said demonstrations. Mr. Motilal Bora assured me that if at all any ordinance is brought in, it will, as demanded by the All-India Disability Alliance, only be for the purpose of amending the definition related Section of the current PWD Act so as to include persons belonging to those other categories of disabilities who are not covered under the existing provisions of the PWD Act. AICC Secretary Dr. Jay Kumar stated that no ordinance will be promulgated without the active concurrence of the All-India Disability Alliance. Today's update On behalf of the said alliance, a delegation comprising members of the National Federation of the Blind met Mr. V. Narayan Swamy, Minister of State in the PMO in tamil Nadu who categorically stated that no ordinance is in contemplation of the Govt. in violation of established procedures. Another delegation of the National Federation of the Blind also met Mr. Rahul Gandhi in Dehra Dun, Uttarakhand, and submitted a memorandum on behalf of the said All-India Disability Alliance requesting him to ensure that the RPD Bill is not promulgated through the ordinance route in its present form albeit the Govt. may, in order to include persons belonging to some other categories of disabilities as stated above, may appropriately amend the existing PWD Act. Mr. Gandhi, after hearing out the delegation assured that whatever is in the best interests of persons with disabilities will be done and that he will look into the demand of the Alliance. Best regards, Santosh Kumar Rungta, Coordinator, All-India Disability Alliance. General Secretary, National Federation of the Blind, New Delhi. 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..
