GOVERNMENT NOTIFIES THE NATIONAL
COMMISSION FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
The Government has
notified the Constitution of the National Commission for Persons
with Disabilities. This has been done in pursuance with the announcement
made by the Prime Minister for the welfare of the persons with
disabilities on the Independence Day. The Nine-member Commission
would include the Chairperson, two full time Members and five
Associate Members. They shall be persons of eminence and involved
in the rehabilitation and advocacy for the rights of the persons
with disabilities. The Commission would also have a full time
Member Secretary.
The Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment has in a Gazette Notification issued here
said that three of the Members will separately represent the persons
with hearing impairment, visual impairment and locomotor disability
while one each shall be nominated from the Associations of Parents/Guardians
of persons suffering from mental retardation and from autism,
cerebral palsy or multiple disability. Two of the members shall
atleast be women. The Chairperson and other members except the
Member Secretary shall be appointed for a three-year term and
can be re-appointed for one additional term. They will hold office
during the pleasure of the President.
The Commission would
recommend to the Central Government specific programme of action
for facilitating full participation of the persons with disabilities
in the social and economic life of the Country. This would involve
provision of right education, vocational training and poverty
elevation packages, employment and other support services so that
the disabled persons are assessed for their abilities despite
disabilities. The Commission would also review the status and
conditions of Institutions delivering services in the disability
sector. It would also discharge any other work assigned by Central
Government from time to time. The Commission shall have the power
to call information from any government, local or other authority
concerned with the implementation of programme and schemes for
the disabled persons. It would submit its report annually, which
would include the recommendations.
It is estimated that
on an average 5% of the country’s population suffers from some
kind of disability. According to some estimates the available
services cater to only about 5% of the disabled persons. The Commission
is expected to help the government in bridging this wide gap between
the requirement and availability of the rehabilitation services.
