News

Volume 4 Issue 5 - March 01, 2006

M.S.J.E. asks States to send recommendations for amendment to Disability Act

D.N.I.S. News Network - The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (M.S.J.E.) has asked the States to send their suggestions for amendment to the Disability Act 1995 and given eight weeks time for the same.

This was stated by the M.S.J.E. Secretary, Sarita Prasad, at the Fifth National Meeting of State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities held recently in the National Capital. State Commissioners for Disabilities from 21 States and three Union Territories took part in the 2-day meeting to review the implementation of the Act.

Minister M.S.J.E. Meira Kumar, who was also present, urged the Chief Ministers of all States to appoint full-time Disability Commisioners. Eight States have appointed full-time Commissioners. These are Andhra Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. 19 States have constituted Medical Boards in each district to facilitate issue of disability certificates. The Ministry has identified more than 1,600 jobs, including I.A.S. and other Central Services, for disabled people.

Expressing concern over non-implementation of three per cent reservation for disabled people mandated in the Act, she said "I consider it a matter of concern that some of the States are yet to identify the jobs. They should adopt the list notified by the Central Government."

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Subulakshmi Jagdeesan noted the need to have a wider role for the Rehabilitation Council of India and the National Institutes; and to bring about uniformity of curriculum and proper distribution and maintenance of aids and appliances for children with disabilities.

Earlier, making a presentation the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities,           Dr. Manoj Kumar said that all States have constituted the State Coordination Committees and State Executive Committees under the Persons with Disability Act, 1995. However, regular meetings of these Committees are not held.