News

Volume 8 Issue 2 - January 15, 2011

Protest in Chennai over new law on disability rights

D.N.I.S. News Network, India: The Disabled Rights Group (D.R.G.) organised a candlelight vigil in Chennai on January 1 to protest against the time being taken by Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (M.S.J.E.) to come out with a new and comprehensive Disability Rights Law.

“Our voice has been repeatedly overshadowed by bureaucratic processes,” said D.R.G. Convener Javed Abidi. He explained that there are four laws which affect the lives of disabled people – Disability Act 1995, National Trust Act 1999, Mental Health Act 1987 and Rehabilitation Council of India Act 1992. The time has come to look at them closely and draft a strong, rights based, comprehensive law containing all the rights of all the disabled people.

“After repeated protests and demonstrations, the government finally acceded to draft a new law. A Committee was set up on April 30. They were given four months and should have submitted their report by end August. After two extensions, the deadline fixed was December 31, but still nothing has happened,” he explained.

Earlier, D.R.G. also demonstrated in New Delhi on December 31 outside M.S.J.E. Minister, Mukul Wasnik’s residence.