States asked to act in regard of UN Convention on Disabled

New Delhi, May 2 (UNI) Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Meira Kumar has written to all Chief Ministers bringing to their notice the provisions of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which comes into force from tomorrow. Ms Kumar has urged them to take suitable action for ensuring the disabled accessibility, personal mobility, security, freedom from exploitation, violence and abuse, ability to live independently, education, health, rehabilitation and employment.

The international consensus on the subject which was forged after prolonged consultations. It was signed by India on March 30 last year, the day it opened for signature.

In so doing, India reaffirmed its commitment towards the International Policy Framework in respect of the persons with disabilities, the Ministry said here today.

The purpose of the Convention is ''to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity''.

India has enacted the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act in 1995 and certain other laws, and has taken certain other institution-building measures for persons with disabilities.

Also the National Policy for Disabled People, adopted in 2006, has comprehensively spelt out the goals towards full acknowledgement and exercise of all human rights of persons with disabilities as well as promoting a broad commitment to accessibility, autonomy and equality of opportunity for them.

These measures would stand India in good stead in discharging its accountability to the international community under the UNCRPD, The Ministry said.

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