Policy Developments in India

It is always instructive to read what Javed Abidi has to say from India. He is India's father of Inclusive Tourism - and so much more - for the disability community. He posts here:

http://javedabidi.blogspot.com/

For further background on a current issue in India see the following press release:

Friday, February 05, 2010


Consultative Committee meeting of Social Justice & Empowerment Ministry deliberates on Amendments to Disability Act

The Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Mukul Wasnik has said that the consultations with regard to the amendments to the Persons with Disability Act, 1995 are still on and a road-map is being drawn to finalize the changes which would be so wide-ranging that the present Act might have to be replaced by an altogether new Act. He was addressing the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment here today.

Chairing the Meeting, Shri Wasnik said that an elaborate exercise has been done to formulate the amendments to the PwD Act and draft amendments were sent to the States and Central Ministries and were also placed on the Ministry's website in September last, inviting comments and suggestions. "There has been an overwhelming response to the Ministry's proposals and several State Governments, Union Ministries and stakeholders including NGOs have sent their comments and suggestions on the proposed amendments", the Minister said and added that these are under examination and a final draft would be prepared as soon as possible.

Shri Wasnik also emphasized that all viewpoints would be seriously considered, so that expectations of the PwDs are met and the amended law is effective enough to make a tangible change in their lives.

A Presentation was made at the Meeting and the salient features of the proposed amendments were explained to the Members. The proposed changes are in the area of definitions, education, health care, employment and monitoring structure etc.

Participating in the discussion, the Members generally welcomed the exercise to comprehensively amend the PwD Act and stressed the need to examine its proper implementation at the ground level. In particular, they suggested need for simplification of certification procedure, enhanced disability pension, proper implementation of reservation for PwDs, skilled training for self employment and adequate awareness generation about disability issues.

Responding to the Members suggestions, the Minister said that any further suggestions by them, based on in-depth study of the proposed amendments, would be considered seriously. He promised to complete the exercise in a comprehensive and expeditious manner, taking all viewpoints into consideration. He also apprised the Members that his Ministry had become the first central ministry of have made its website accessible to PwDs.

The Members who attended the Meeting were : Smt. Usha Verma, Sh. Rudra Madhab Ray, Sh. Shakti Mohan Malik, Sh. Thangso Baite and Sh. P.L. Punia.


Source:

http://www.pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=57663