Amid ruckus in the house over the demonetisation issue, the Rajya Sabha has just passed the disabilities rights bill. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities bill also replaced the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995.
The Rajya Sabha passed by voice vote the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 that makes accessibility a mandatory requirement.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014 replaced the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
It has been brought to comply with the United Naitons Conventions on Rights of Persons with Disabilities on which India signed in 2007.
The legislation was pending in the Rajya Sabha since February 2014. The term of the erstwhile UPA government ended soon after it was introduced.
The earlier bill which was replaced by new one which was Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, was first enacted in 1995 to give effect to the Proclamation on the Full Participation and Equality of the people with disability in the Asian and Pacific Region.
The new bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha, has 19 conditions in which persons with at least 40% of disability are entitled to certain benefits.
The bill also confers several rights and entitlements to disabled persons in which it include disabled friendly access to all public buildings, hospitals, modes of transport, polling stations, etc.
--with agency inputs
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