HYDERABAD: The reservations for persons with disabilities (PWDs) has been enhanced from the present 3 per cent to 5 per cent in all the poverty alleviation programmes.The Central government has enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016 repealing the existing Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, which came into force on April 19, 2017. As per Sec 37 of the Act, the appropriate governments and the local authorities shall by notification, make schemes in favour of persons with benchmark disabilities, to provide five per cent reservation in all poverty alleviation and various developmental schemes with priority to women with benchmark disabilities. Accordingly, the reservation was increased to five per cent now for implementation of all poverty alleviation schemes.
While calling this a welcome move, M Srinivasulu from the Network of Persons with Disability Organisations pointed that the new RPWD Act, 2016 does not talk about alleviation of poverty, but to make all welfare schemes inclusive for PWDs.“Sec 37 of RPWD Act states this. This implies that even if the municipal corporation is laying a road, it has to ensure that it is accessible by PWDs. This has been misinterpreted,” he pointed. Meanwhile, a separate fund of PWDs will help in implementing the welfare schemes effectively said CH Ishakar, chairperson of United Voluntary Action for Rehabilitation of Disabled.