10 Dec 2013

Not Charity Any More

India accounts for 1/6th of the total disabled population of the world having about 100 million disabled persons living here. Although ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill’ that came into action in 2011 states about the various rights of disabled people, most of them remain on papers. Discrimination prevails to a very large extent even today making the life a lot more difficult for them.
“Last year the candidacy of a woman who contested in Panchayat elections was cancelled as she had hearing impairment,” pointed out Smitha. This is against the right to political participation for the disabled, guaranteed by the constitution. But the lack of awareness among the victims as well as among the public allows such discriminatory practices to continue.

My news story on it in connection with Dec 3, World Disability Day

http://shilpaelizabethabraham.wordpress.com/2013/12/07/not-charity-anymore-2/