Chairperson, NHRC writes to Chief Ministers and Central Ministers for the protection of the rights of the disabled
On 31 December 2002, Justice J.S. Verma wrote to the Chief Ministers of all States and to the Central Ministers of the concerned departments of the Government of India in respect of the better protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.
He stated that the NHRC had been greatly concerned with the problems of persons with disabilities. Its endeavour in this area had been to bring about a paradigm shift in approach, hitherto motivated by charity, to one based on the rights of the disabled. With this perspective in view, the Commission had recently reviewed the implementation of various legislations/programmes for the disabled both by the Central and the State Governments.
Disability being a rights issue, the Chairperson said that the Governments needed to bring the human rights of the disabled to the center stage of the developmental agenda. However, the Commission had noticed that the implementation of policies and programmes for the disabled had been inadequate. The Commission had accordingly identified some priority areas requiring immediate attention.
Both the Centre and the States have been asked to:
§ Constitute task forces to frame National/State policies and plan for the creation of barrier-free infrastructure for the disabled in accordance with the provisions of the Disabilities Act.
§ Review and amend rules and regulations that have discriminatory provisions or lack enabling provisions for the enjoyment of the full range of human rights by persons with disabilities.
The Centre has been asked to:
§ Introduce and rationalize schemes for persons with disabilities.
§ Develop minimum standards to ensure quality in the services provided by NGOs and government institutions to the disabled.
§ Rehabilitate disabled child beggars.
§ Provide social security for women with disabilities.
While the States have been specifically asked to:
§ Formulate a ‘State Disability Policy and Plan of Action.’
§ Carry out vertical integration of schemes of all departments relating to the disabled.
§ Provide employment opportunities for the disabled in accordance with the provisions of the Disabilities Act.
§ Carry out capacity building/sensitization programmes for administrators and field functionaries.
§ Enforce the provisions of the Mental Health Act, 1987.
The Commission has requested the Chief Ministers and the Central Ministers to give their personal attention to these issues in order to ensure that the rights of the disabled, recognized in the law, are earnestly granted to them without any further delay.
In addition to writing to the Chief Ministers of all the States and the Administrators of Union Territories, the Chairperson’s letters have been addressed to the Ministers for Parliamentary Affairs, Rural Development, Human Resource Development and Science and Technology & Ocean Development, Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation, Social Justice & Empowerment, Civil Aviation, Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Health and Family Welfare and Law and Justice and Ministers of State for Road Transport and Highways and Programme Implementation & Statistics.
He stated that the NHRC had been greatly concerned with the problems of persons with disabilities. Its endeavour in this area had been to bring about a paradigm shift in approach, hitherto motivated by charity, to one based on the rights of the disabled. With this perspective in view, the Commission had recently reviewed the implementation of various legislations/programmes for the disabled both by the Central and the State Governments.
Disability being a rights issue, the Chairperson said that the Governments needed to bring the human rights of the disabled to the center stage of the developmental agenda. However, the Commission had noticed that the implementation of policies and programmes for the disabled had been inadequate. The Commission had accordingly identified some priority areas requiring immediate attention.
Both the Centre and the States have been asked to:
§ Constitute task forces to frame National/State policies and plan for the creation of barrier-free infrastructure for the disabled in accordance with the provisions of the Disabilities Act.
§ Review and amend rules and regulations that have discriminatory provisions or lack enabling provisions for the enjoyment of the full range of human rights by persons with disabilities.
The Centre has been asked to:
§ Introduce and rationalize schemes for persons with disabilities.
§ Develop minimum standards to ensure quality in the services provided by NGOs and government institutions to the disabled.
§ Rehabilitate disabled child beggars.
§ Provide social security for women with disabilities.
While the States have been specifically asked to:
§ Formulate a ‘State Disability Policy and Plan of Action.’
§ Carry out vertical integration of schemes of all departments relating to the disabled.
§ Provide employment opportunities for the disabled in accordance with the provisions of the Disabilities Act.
§ Carry out capacity building/sensitization programmes for administrators and field functionaries.
§ Enforce the provisions of the Mental Health Act, 1987.
The Commission has requested the Chief Ministers and the Central Ministers to give their personal attention to these issues in order to ensure that the rights of the disabled, recognized in the law, are earnestly granted to them without any further delay.
In addition to writing to the Chief Ministers of all the States and the Administrators of Union Territories, the Chairperson’s letters have been addressed to the Ministers for Parliamentary Affairs, Rural Development, Human Resource Development and Science and Technology & Ocean Development, Urban Development & Poverty Alleviation, Social Justice & Empowerment, Civil Aviation, Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Health and Family Welfare and Law and Justice and Ministers of State for Road Transport and Highways and Programme Implementation & Statistics.