GoM discuss providing equal opportunity to differently abled

New Delhi, Oct 22 (UNI) Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today chaired the meeting of a Group of Ministers that deliberated on providing equal opportunity to differently abled persons.

The meeting discussed various measures to empower the physically and mentally challenged persons. Development of ramps for their free movement, providing them employment opportunities in various fields and meeting their specific health care needs was the focus of the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy, Finance Minister P Chidamabaram, Law Minister H R Bharadwaj, Rural Development Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar, Health Minister Anbumoni Ramadoss and Communication and IT Minister A Raja.

Minister of State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury, Minister of State for Urban Development and Poverty Alleviation and Minister of State for Personnel and Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachauri were also present.

Mr Patil would chair another GoM tomorrow, which would deliberate on the Draft Tribal Policy. The ten-member GoM, which would be meeting for the second time, would give its recommendations to the Union Cabinet on the rights of tribal to forest land and produce and how to manage forest wealth without damaging the environment. The Draft policy, once cleared by the Cabinet, would be presented before Parliament.

Meanwhile, Mr Patil is meeting Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee this evening to discuss the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Bill 2006. The two ministers would discuss various provisions of the bill so as to finalise the reply to the Departmental Related Parliamentary Standing Committee's queries on the issue.

They would also finalise the Congress' stand on measures for enforcement of the provisions of the prevention of the Damage to Public Property Act, 1984 sought by the Justice Thomas Committee.

UNI