11 Dec :The Government has taken various steps towards amending the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995. The National Consultation for amending the Act was initiated in June, 2006 with the first consultation meeting at Patna with State Governments, experts NGOs and stakeholders. The second meeting was held in July, 2006 at Chennai and thereafter there were demands from stakeholders that the consultation process may be kept in abeyance till India signed the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). This demand was accepted and the consultation process was again resumed after India signed the UNCRPD on 30th March, 2007. The last two consultation meetings were held at Delhi and Goa in August and November, 2007 respectively. The suggestions received during the consultation meetings as well as provisions of the UNCRPD are being considered for amendment of the Act.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.