The Committee appointed by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, to draft a New Legislation replacing the existing Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, presented the final draft of the new law, “The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2011”, to Shri Mukul Wasnik, Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment. The proposed law seeks to repeal the Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995 and to replace it with a comprehensive rights based law in accordance with the provisions of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
The Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 was proposed to be replaced by a new legislation by the Ministry in the light of the experience gained in the implementation of the Act, developments that have taken place in the disability sector over the years, and also the commitments under the UNCRPD.
A Committee under the Chairpersonship of Dr.(Mrs) Sudha Kaul, Vice Chairperson, Indian Institute for Cerebral Palsy, Kolkata, and consisting of experts and representatives of stakeholders including Central Ministries, State Governments, Civil Society Organisations and experts, including persons with disabilities, was therefore, set up by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on 30.4.2010 to consider various suggestions and views and to draft a comprehensive law.
