Specially abled persons protest against delay of new Disability Law

New Delhi, Jan.1 (ANI): Various specially abled groups organised a candle light demonstration outside the Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul Wasnik's residence on Friday to protest against the delay in drafting of the new Disability Law.

According to Javed Abidi, convenor of the Disabled Rights Group, the Central Government is not serious about a comprehensive disability legislation to replace the Disability Act of 1995.

"After the declaration of the "United Nations' Convention on Rights of the Disabled People", it is the duty of the government of India to pass a strong law. Long after when this government was formed and Mr. Mukul Wasnik became the Minister, last year in the month of October we kept this matter in front of him and it took him seven months to decide whether there should be any law in favour of the rights of the disables or not," said Abidi.

Abidi further stated that a new Committee with a specific time frame should be set up to look into the matter.

"We don't believe in this committee any more. We demand that this committee should be dismantled and a new one should be formed with a definite deadline. The Government has to give assurance that a new law for which the disables are waiting for long now has to be passed," said Abidi.

A committee was formed and given four months time until August 2010 to submit a draft proposal on the law. However, the deadline was extended until October-end and then it was yet again extended to the end of December 2010.

Abidi added that now the central government has asked for one more months' extension, until March 31, 2011. (ANI)