HYDERABAD: With the Rajya Sabha passing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Bill, 2014 on Wednesday reactions came pouring in from groups as well as individuals working for safeguarding the rights of the disabled. 

It is being claimed that the Bill, which on its clearance by Lok Sabha will replace the PWD Act, 1995, will make a large number of people eligible for more rights and entitlements on the basis of their disability.

Ch Ishkar, chairman of United Voluntary Action for Rehabilitation of Disabled (UVARD) said, “Though it is delayed as the legislation had been pending in Rajya Sabha since 2014, I welcome the move. I am aware that in the Bill revised with several amendments, 19 categories for disabled have been recognised against seven categories in the PWD Act, 1995.”

“If the Bill becomes an Act, a lot more physically-challenged individuals will be empowered. This is success halfway through, our federation will appeal in writing to the political representatives concerned with the cause at Central level to ensure that the Bill is pushed by them in order to become an Act.” UVARD is a federation of NGOs working for the rehabilitation and empowerment of PWDs.

When asked for her response on the development, academician and activist Amita Dhandha said it is the first time that something that is wrong in the legislation has been set to appear as if it is right. 

“How can you talk about a section of population as equal when you are hailing a law that provides it reservation. This appears to me as a joke.”

“Ours is a country where such Bills are cleared without any discussion it seems,” she said. Reacting to this, human rights activist Jasveen Jairath said, “It differs from the argument made to oppose reservations for the specially challenged on the grounds that reservation to persons born with disability is empowerment. 

As the new Bill, when fully cleared, will create possibilities for more rights and entitlements for PWDs, it should be definitely pushed by every responsible individual to become an Act.” 

Source: http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2016/dec/15/rpwd-bill-slated-to-empower-a-large-number-of-disabled-people-1549208.html