PRO-ACTIVE INTERVENTION BY MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT FOR EMPOWERING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES

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The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has been proactively involved in empowering the people with disabilities with several programme interventions for almost last six years with the implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act. The Ministry is not only alive to the problems of the people with disabilities but has been vigorously pursuing on its own to meet most of the demands as made by Shri Javeed Abidi in his representation on March 12, 2002. Illustratively, the Ministry has taken up with the Revenue Department of the Finance Ministry the issues of raising the income tax exemption from Rs.40,000.00 to Rs. One lakh and import duty exemption on various appliances and aids meant for use by the disabled. Similarly the Ministry and the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities are pursuing with the concerned central and state authorities for creating barrier free environment for easy access of the disabled persons to public places. Moreover, the Ministry has issued a notification that, it expects, will help in bringing greater awareness of the statutory obligations and taking necessary initiatives by various authorities at all levels for creation of barrier free conditions. Regarding 'Revision of Job List' for the disabled, the Ministry reviewed the position as late as in June last year and identified 1900 posts in the government. The Ministry would welcome sound suggestions for incorporation of more posts. The Ministry has also taken up the issue with the Finance Ministry for fixing modalities for incentives to promote employment of persons with disabilities in the private sector. Efforts are also on to shift the office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities from NOIDA (U.P) to Delhi. The Ministry is of the view that the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, appointed by the Cabinet Committee of Appointments is doing a satisfactory job and there is no need to substitute this office with a 'Disability Commission'.