Disabled people plan hunger strike in Delhi for rights law

A group of disabled people will begin an indefinite hunger strike from Wednesday outside the Shastri Bhawan, which houses many central government ministries, to protest their poor representation on a committee drafting a new law protecting their rights.

Following pressure from various disabled groups, the social justice and empowerment ministry in April ormed a committee to draft new legislation, reflecting the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, to replace the Disability Act, 1995.

The first meeting of the committee will be held June 10.

“The government has overlooked the basic tenet of the convention and the bedrock of the disability rights movement – ‘Nothing about us, Without us’. The 27-member committee appointed by the government has only three people with disabilities,” said Javed Abidi, convener of Disabled Rights Group.

A group of disabled people also met Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Mukul Wasnik May 26, demanding an increase in the number of disabled people in the committee, he said.

“We will sit on indefinite hunger strike till our demands are accepted,” Abidi added.

INDEFINITE DHARNA AGAINST THE NON – INCLUSION OF DISABILTY IN THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION BILL

HUGE PROTEST ON MONDAY, 3RD AUGUST AT 10.30 A.M.  AT JANTAR MANTAR

Dear Sir/Madam,

The Right to Education Bill was tabled in the Lok Sabha on July 30.

On one hand it promises to make primary education a right for children between 6 – 14 years while on the other, it excludes more than 20 million children with disabilities!

Various disabled rights activists tried to get in touch with Mr.Kapil Sibal. But all he had to say was, “Ab Kuch Nahin Ho Sakta”. A lawyer politician flouting the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities that the country has ratified!  A government that harps on inclusiveness claims that it does not have the resources, according to the Minister, to spend on children with disability!

There are some glaring problems in the Bill:

1: Where the Bill defines ‘disadvantaged children’, it talks about SC/ST children and other groups but has no word at all about children with disabilities!

2: Where the Bill defines ‘school’, it does not mention special schools or other infrastructure required for teaching students with disabilities!

3: Where the Bill defines ‘disability’, it takes the meaning as it is given in the Disability Act, 1995. This Act covers people with physical disabilities only. For this very reason The National Trust Act was enacted in 1999 which covers Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Multiple Disabilities. These children are automatically excluded!

Disabled Rights Group (DRG) and all the disability groups in and around NCR are organising a HUGE PROTEST RALLY and INDEFINITE DHARNA on Monday, 3rd August, beginning at 10.30 a.m. at Jantar Mantar. We expect 500 or more disabled people to be there at the Dharna.

We need your best support! Please depute a reporter/photographer/camera crew and help us fight for the rights of millions of disabled children who are being deprived of their right to education.

With best regards,

Javed Abidi

Convenor, Disabled Rights Group

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