Disabilities panel: Social justice min against reservation of

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is opposed to the idea of reserving the post of the chairperson of the disability commission for a person with "benchmark" disability.
In a note to the Union Cabinet, the ministry has made it clear that despite the demands for the same, it does not propose to reserve the post of the chairperson of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities for a person with benchmark disability.
But it has left a final decision on the matter to the Cabinet, which will tomorrow be taking up amendments to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014.

Benchmark disability means a person with not less than 40 per cent of a specified disability, as certified by a competent authority.
The Cabinet had in December last year cleared the proposal for introducing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2013, to replace the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities Act), 1995.
The Bill had been sent to the Rajya Sabha secretariat for introduction. But Parliament was then adjourned before the Bill could be introduced.

Rights groups, meanwhile, managed to get a copy of the Bill and found faults in some of the provisions.
While the Ministry, in consultation with the groups, accepted some of the demands, it opposed the call for reservation of the post of chairperson for a person with benchmark disability.

The Bill cleared by the Union Cabinet in December provides for five per cent reservation for persons with disabilities in public sector jobs and makes the private sector more accountable for creating a disabled-friendly environment. It provides for incentives for the private sector to take such measures.
On political participation, the proposed law says every person with disability who fulfils eligibility requirements is entitled to be registered as a voter.
He/she should not be disqualified from exercising voting right on the grounds of disability, irrespective of any stipulation to the contrary in any law which is for the time being in force.