Question: The Right of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 is based on the recommendations of …
a) Sudha Kaul Committee
b) Rajinder Sachar Committee
c) Balwant Rai Mehta Committee
d) Justice G.T. Nanavati commission
Ans: (a)
Related facts:
- On 14th December, 2016 the Rajya Sabha passed The Right of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 with amendments.
- The bill will now go back to Lok Sabha and once cleared, will replace the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
- This bill was drafted on the basis of the recommendations of the Sudha Kaul Committee, under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and it has been pending in Rajya Sabha since 2014.
- According to the 2011 Census, the number of disabled in India stands at 2.21 per cent of the population. The Bill is more likely to make a larger number of people eligible for rights and entitlements by reason of their disability since it recognises more disablities as compared to the 1995 Act.
- The Bill also complies with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities which was ratified by India on the 1st October, 2007.
- The new bill covers 19 conditions, instead of seven disabilities specified in the Act. While the 1995 Act recognised 7 disabilities — blindness, low vision, leprosy-cured, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, mental retardation and mental illness, the 2014 Bill was expanded to cover 19 conditions– including cerebral palsy, haemophilia, multiple sclerosis, autism and thalassaemia among others. The amended version also recognises two other disabilities — resulting from acid attacks and Parkinson’s disease.
- The Bill has also laid down provisions to allow the central government to notify any other condition as a disability.
- The Bill mentions that individuals with at least 40 per cent of a disability are entitled to benefits like reservations in education and employment, preference in government schemes and others. While the 1995 law had 3 per cent reservation provision.
- One of the most significant highlights is the addition of penalty for violating the rules of the Act. The current amendments to the Bill, propose to remove the jail term entirely, and only keep fines for breaking the law.
- The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 seeks to improve the overall conditions that prevail in the country for people with different kinds of disabilities.
Reference:
http://rstv.nic.in/rajya-sabha-passes-disabilities-bill-2014.html
http://www.prsindia.org/uploads/media/Person%20with%20Disabilities/The%20Right%20of%20Persons%20with%20Disabilities%20Bill.pdf
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/rajya-sabha-clears-disabilities-bill-2014-here-are-the-key-highlights/