News

Volume 8 Issue 6 - March 15, 2011

Abidi writes to P.M., expresses disappointment over Union Budget

D.N.I.S. News Network, India: Expressing disappointment over no mention of disability in the Union Budget of 2011-12, Javed Abidi, Honorary Director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (N.C.P.E.D.P.) and Convenor of Disabled Rights Group (D.R.G.), wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

“The Union Budget was a huge disappointment for us, the 70 million disabled citizens of India. Lot of promises made during the XIth Five Year Plan have still not been fulfilled. We were hoping that there would be some mention of such promises, for example the setting up of the National Institute of Universal Design,” said Abidi.

He also objected to the proposed 5% service tax on health care. “If there is one section of the society who will be the most impacted, it would be people with disabilities. Again, it would not require a very long argument to establish that most disabled people have serious health care needs. At most times, those needs are not fulfilled within the existing public health system and therefore, per force, a disabled person has to go to a doctor or a rehab professional at one of those “air conditioned” hospitals or clinics. Sir, I appeal to you to please convince the Hon’ble Finance Minister to NOT levy this extra tax on health care and to please withdraw/drop this proposal from the Union Budget of 2011-2012,” stated Abidi in his letter to the Prime Minister.

Click here to read Javed Abidi’s letter to Prime Minister (Word - 31 KB)