‘Parl panel proposal catastrophic for narrative of disability’

Inclusion of diabetes Type-I, kidney failure and blood cancer in the list of disabilities, as suggested by a parliamentary panel, is tantamount to equating disability with ailments and will "dilute" its narrative to a "catastrophic" extent, said a former official.

Former Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Prasanna Kumar <g data-gr-id="11">Pincha</g> said the committee, in its report "has wrongly recommended that ailments like blood cancer, kidney failure and diabetes Type-I should form part of disabilities".

"This is tantamount to equating disability with ailments or sickness," he said, adding this 

<g data-gr-id="12">recommendation,</g> if accepted and adopted, "will dilute the narrative of disability to a catastrophic extent".

The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, introduced in Rajya Sabha in 2014, includes 19 types of disability.