Disability Act rules notified, to provide level playing field

NEW DELHI: Disabled people will now be able to avail benefits and concessions in education, health services, loans, jobs and other schemes with Delhi government notifying the rules under Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 on December 28 after a delay of over a year. The move aims at ensuring an inclusive environment for the differently-abled.

Terming the rules as a New Year’s gift for the specially-abled, the AAP government said that now establishments cannot discriminate on the ground of disability.

The government will be forming a committee for research on disability with the members being an eminent person, director of department of social welfare, representatives from directorate of health services, Delhi Medical Council and an autonomous institution in the field of disability. Five members from registered state-level organisations would also be nominated as members.

The rules also state that a person with disability will not be a subject of research. To ensure better education for children with disabilities, the government will appoint nodal officers in district education offices to deal with all matters relating to their admission and the facilities to be provided at schools.

For private organisations, the rules make it mandatory to publish equal opportunity policy for the disabled and provide facilities and amenities to enable them to effectively discharge their duties.

“The rules will ensure an inclusive environment for the differently-abled. The government is already working towards the formation of a dedicated department for them. Public consultation and suggestions are invited from stakeholders and the public. The draft policy for department formation along with the organisational structure will be uploaded soon,” the government stated.

The delay in notification took place because Delhi doesn’t fall into the category of “state” as mentioned in the rules. “We had to obtain clearance from the LG to approach the Union ministry of home affairs. Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 confers power upon the state government to make such rules. Since Delhi is considered a Union Territory, a specific delegation of the powers is required for exercising them, which led to the delay,” the government said.

The department of social welfare is developing new schemes and institutes for the rehabilitation of disabled requiring high support keeping in mind that the new legislation now covers 21 categories, up from seven earlier.