Differently-abled people stage dharna

Scores of differently-abled people and activists today staged a dharna at Jantar Mantar, demanding support from all political parties to ensure the passage of Disability Rights Bill in Parliament.
The Disabled Rights Group (DRG) has also urged the political parties to ensure that disability does not become a political issue and that the bill is passed smoothly.
Earlier today, The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014, which seeks to bring sweeping changes in the earlier bill and broaden the ambit of disability from existing seven to nineteen categories, was introduced amid din by Union Minister Mallikarjun Kharge.
CPI-M, however, demanded that it should be referred to a Standing Committee for further consideration.

"We are extremely disappointed as leaders of CPI-M were the first ones we had met, who gave us an assurance that they would unequivocally support our campaign. Referring the bill to the Standing Committee would mean a loss of about two years for 70 million citizens," said Javed Abidi, convener, DRG.
The disability activists said they will once again meet senior leaders of the Opposition parties to gather support for smooth passage of the bill in the ongoing session of Parliament.

To further press for their demand, the DRG said it will resume the agitation from Monday and come out on streets in large numbers.

"We will not give up easily. If the bill does not get passed then we will know how despite promising support, the political class cheated the disabled community of the country," he said.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 seeks to provide five per cent reservation for disabled persons in public sector jobs and reserve seats for them in higher educational institutions.
It also provides for the setting up of a national commission, a national fund and covers a variety of issues relating to the disabled persons such as physical, mental and multiple disabilities.