Implementation of the disabilities act of 1995

With the implementation of the Disabilities Act of 1995 i.e. Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights, and Full Participation, the first step has been taken for their rights-based economic empowerment. India’s second step is to accept the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNC RPD). A new bill has been introduced in the Rajyasabha, in which there is a provision to enhance this process. 

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014

There is a provision to include several demands of rights groups and activists of persons with disabilities in this bill. These people are pressurizing to get it passed in Parliament soon

Some important provisions of this bill include making accessibility mandatory for persons with disabilities under the law, increasing the number of proposed beneficiary categories from 7 to 19, and also the entitlement of certain benefits to persons with at least 40 percent disability. There is also a provision to provide handicapped-friendly access to all public buildings, hospitals, and means of transport, polling stations, etc. Violation of any provision of this Bill is punishable under law.

Apart from this, through the proposed law, the government has taken several measures for the empowerment of persons with disabilities.  

Accessible India Campaign -Empowerment of Disabled people

This campaign was started almost a year ago on 15th December. The objective of this flagship program of the government is to provide accessibility to the differently able by creating an enabling and barrier-free environment. It has been focused on three objectives- Accessibility in a ready environment, Accessibility in the transport system, and access to knowledge and ICT ecosystem. According to the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, the work of checking 1092 buildings out of 1098 buildings in 31 cities has already been completed to make the buildings completely accessible. 

Accessible library

The government in August this year launched an online platform “Sugamya Librarian”, where Divyang jan can access library books at the click of a button. Persons with disabilities can have any publication in Braille script on any device of their choice like mobile phone, tablet, computer, the dizzy player even on the braille display. A copy of the Braille script can also be requested through a member of the Braille press organization.

Sri A.K. Mittal believes that there has been a significant improvement in the state of availability of basic stationery and walking aids like canes for blind people. Appreciating the government’s initiative regarding generous grants for the production of books in Braille script, he said that if this scheme for modernization and setting up of new Braille presses is implemented properly, it will increase the production of books. 

U DID card – Empowerment of Disabled people

The government has proposed to introduce a web-based Exceptional Disability Identification (U DID) card. This initiative will go a long way in ensuring the authenticity of Divyang certificates and will eliminate the hassle of carrying multiple certificates for different tasks, as various details including the type of Divyang will be available online.

https://www.sicolineonline.com/empowerment-of-disabled-people/