Delhi’s policy for disabled has a long way to go
7 Aug 2012 9:18 AM GMT
Even 17 years after enactment of Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, Delhi does not have a disability policy. An RTI filed by Dr Satendra Singh with social welfare department of Delhi government, the RTI revealed that the capital city have a state level policy on disability in place but it is not in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
In the wake of India ratifying the UNCRPD in October 2007, it has become incumbent on India’s part, under the established and recognised international human right norms, to harmonise all its relevant domestic laws and policies with this international treaty.
A doctor himself, Singh said, ‘Being a person with locomotor disability, I am aggrieved by the lack of sensitivity of the government towards public with disability. I filed an RTI to know how progressive is disability policy of Indian capital, our Delhi. I was shocked to see that Delhi does not have a disability policy.’
Earlier, in this connection, Prasanna Kumar Pincha, chief commissioner for Persons With Disabilities (PWD) wrote to Chief Secretary and Commissioners for PWD of all the States and UTs on 15 February 2012.
When asked about the changes done in the policy in accordance with UNCRPD, the RTI revealed that ‘a meeting was convened on 11 May this year in the Chamber of Secretary in which one of the agenda points was matter related to draft of State Policy on persons with disabilities for government.’
In the wake of India ratifying the UNCRPD in October 2007, it has become incumbent on India’s part, under the established and recognised international human right norms, to harmonise all its relevant domestic laws and policies with this international treaty.
A doctor himself, Singh said, ‘Being a person with locomotor disability, I am aggrieved by the lack of sensitivity of the government towards public with disability. I filed an RTI to know how progressive is disability policy of Indian capital, our Delhi. I was shocked to see that Delhi does not have a disability policy.’
Earlier, in this connection, Prasanna Kumar Pincha, chief commissioner for Persons With Disabilities (PWD) wrote to Chief Secretary and Commissioners for PWD of all the States and UTs on 15 February 2012.
When asked about the changes done in the policy in accordance with UNCRPD, the RTI revealed that ‘a meeting was convened on 11 May this year in the Chamber of Secretary in which one of the agenda points was matter related to draft of State Policy on persons with disabilities for government.’
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