Narendra Modi lauds passage of Disabilities Bill

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill is the first bill in the winter session to be passed

New Delhi, Dec 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded the passing of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2016 by Parliament. The Prime Minister said that this is a landmark moment and will add tremendous strength to the "Accessible India" movement.

"Under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2016, the types of disabilities have been increased and provisions for additional benefits introduced," Modi said in a series of tweets.

"There are strict provisions for penalties for offences committed against persons with disabilities and violation of provisions of the new law," he said.

After being passed by the Rajya Sabha earlier in the session, the Lok Sabha on Friday gave its nod to the legislation. It was the first bill in the winter session to be passed amid unusual bonhomie between the government and the opposition in both Houses.

Modi was present in the Lok Sabha as the bill was passed on the last day of the session.

The bill, which replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, has been brought to comply with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which India signed in 2007.

The legislation was pending in the Rajya Sabha since February 2014, as the term of the erstwhile UPA government ended soon after the bill was introduced.

IANS