Disabilities Bill passed. Here’s all you that you need to know
The Bill, which complies with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, increases the number of recognised disabilities from 7 to 21, including for the first time disability due to acid attacks and Parkinson’s.
Cutting across party lines, the Opposition and treasury benches in the Lok Sabha on Friday, the last day of the winter session, agreed on passing the Right of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014. The bill provides for imprisonment up to two years, along with a fine ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 5 lakh for discriminating against the differently abled.
The Bill, which complies with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, increases the number of recognised disabilities from 7 to 21, including for the first time disability due to acid attacks and Parkinson’s.
According to the 2011 Census, the number of disabled in India stands at 2.68 crore, or 2.21 per cent of the population.
Here are a few earlier stories on the disabilities bill
Read: The new disability law will be a game changer. Here’s why
The Bill, which complies with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, increases the number of recognised disabilities from 7 to 21, including for the first time disability due to acid attacks and Parkinson’s.
Read: Stop the bickering and pass the Disability Bill today
The disability sector had been waiting patiently for this. Just making the law took more than five years. Since it was tabled in 2014, it has been examined by the Standing Committee, the Group of Ministers, the PMO, and the Cabinet.
Read: Rajya Sabha clears Disabilities Bill, 2-year jail for discrimination
When the House met in the morning and took up the zero hour, members from the Opposition benches including leader of opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, BSP chief Mayawati, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury and SP leader Naresh Agarwal, pitched for immediate passage of the “crucial” legislation.
