AGARTALA: Hundreds of challenged people gathered in front of the AIR (All India Radio) centre in Agartala to demonstrate a sit-on-protest against the central government fulfilling their long pending demands of rights on the occation of International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Thursday.
The protesters raised slogans demanding fulfilling their demands like bring the Bill of The Right of Persons with Disabilities Act in the ongoing Winter Session of the Parliament, recognition and employment for the disable person and increasing the reservation from present two percent to five for the disable persons.
“Our main demands are that the Bill of The Right of Persons with Disabilities Act should be immediately be passed in the Parliament and made into Act. Our second demand is that more than 65 percent of the disables people of our country did not receive their certificate, they should immediately get that. All the disabled persons should be covered under the Food Security Act and beside this there are around 40 lakh vacant posts in various department of the union government those should be immediately filled up so that the disable people also get job in various government departments,” said Asesh Deb, a protester.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities has been promoted by the United Nations since 1992.
The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
Meantime, another protester Subrata Ganguli said, “We want to create pressure on the central government for amending The Right of Persons with Disabilities Act 1995. In 2014 a Bill was placed in the Parliament and subsequently the central government had send it to the Standing Committee and we demand it should be immediately be passed by the central government in the Parliament as without it the fate and the destiny of the physically challenged people of the country and our state will be in bad condition.”
Modi launched Accessible India campaign in New Delhi on Thursday.
The PWD Act was enacted under Article 253 of the Constitution that gives effect to the proclamation on the full participation and equality of the persons with disability and provides for their equality, empowerment, creation of barer free environment, social security and similar overlook areas.
With the Accessible India campaign, the government envisions having an inclusive society in which equal opportunities and access is provided for the growth and development of persons with disabilities to lead productive, safe and dignified lives.
According to Census 2011, there are 2.68 crore persons with disabilities in India, who constitute 2.21% of the total population.
It is a nationwide flagship campaign for achieving universal accessibility for persons with disabilities and to create an enabling and barrier free environment, with a focus on built environment, public transportation and information and communication technologies.
By this campaign, at least 50 percent of all the government buildings of New Delhi and all the state capitals will be converted into fully accessible buildings by July 2018.