India Calls for National Unversal Design Institute

New Delhi: The Planning Commission today said it will set up an expert group to assess the needs of the physically challenged and come out with a status report.

"As part of the mid-term appraisal (of the 11th Five-Year Plan 2007-12), I am setting up a special mechanism (expert group) which can consult with them (physically challenged) and we will bring before the government the status position," Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia told reporters here today.

Whatever recommendations had been made in the 11th Five- Year Plan for the disabled should be implemented, he said after a delegation from the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) called on him accusing the government of neglecting the welfare of the disabled besides failing to take measures as promised.

"I think they have issues, they wanted to review the promises made. Today is the World Disability Day. In the 11th Plan for the first time certain recommendations have been made. It is their view that not enough has been done. Whatever has not been done should be done," he said.

Ahluwalia said the country needed one universal design institute and also an institute for sign languages and he would take up the matter with the ministries concerned.

"They have raised a special focus on the universal design institute and also an institute for for sign language. I think that India needs these things. I have promised them that we will talk to the ministry concerned and we should do this," he said.

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