Persons with disabilities pin their hopes on MPs for passage of bill in Parliament

Kolkata: Persons with disabilities are looking forward to the Person's with Disability Bill which is tabled in this session of Parliament. These persons are demanding equal rights in mainstream society. They are silently protesting for the MPs to pass the bill in the Parliament this Budget session.

While some of them are employed, others find it challenging pursuing education and seeking employment but a ray of hope has come in the form of the Person's with Disability Bill, which will be tabled in the Parliament.

Sayandeb, a freelance media professional said that this bill would ensure reservation for persons with disabilities, not only in the government but also in the private sector. Not as a CSR activity, but as a rightful basis.

Founder chairperson of Mentaid Iona Kundu, an NGO which provides schooling for mentally-handicapped children, counselling for students and their parents was looking forward to the passage of the legislation.

"We are very interested that the MPs of our State go to Parliament and are aware of the problems of people with disability and push for it from our side. Because if we do not make a concerted effort across the country, our voices will not be heard", he said.

Cases of discriminations against persons with disabilities continued to be on the rise lately. Jeeja Ghosh, Head Advocacy and Disability Studies, Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy, was not allowed to board a flight few years ago at Kolkata airport.

"We have a lot of demands, but the main problem is proper implementation of laws is not enforced. Another thing we need is change of attitude", Jeeja Ghosh said.

Recently, a 22 year old autistic person was stopped from boarding an Air India flight and later made to take sedatives. In another case, a disabled lady was made to crawl on the tarmac as her request for a wheelchair was not granted.

Since 2007, India is part of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The act of 1995 covers only seven disabilities. The proposed legislation includes 19 conditions.