‘Disabled rights Bill to be tabled before Cabinet in a day or two’

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill is expected to be put before the Union Cabinet for its consideration “in a day or two”, a senior government official said here on Friday. The secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Lov Verma, also said the word ‘handicapped’ used in national institutes would be replaced with ‘impairment’ as a mark of “changing attitude” towards persons with disabilities (PwDs).

Verma’s statement came a day after PM Narendra Modi suggested the word “viklang” (disabled) used for describing PwDs should make way for “divyang” (divine body). “We are bringing the new act, it should come before cabinet in a day or two,” Verma said at a conference on disability here. The new Bill seeks to replace the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.