J&K government approves bill for welfare of persons with disabilities
The Jammu and Kashmir government has approved the enactment of a bill aimed to enhance the rights and entitlement of persons with disabilities, an official said today. The State Administrative Council (SAC), which met in Jammu under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik, approved the enactment of the Jammu and Kashmir Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2018, he said.
New Act similar to Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995
The Jammu and Kashmir Persons with Disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) Act, 1998 was modeled on the pattern of persons with disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) Act, 1995 (Central Act), the spokesman said.
Bill expected to address disabled-related matters with enhanced effectiveness
Parliament enacted the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 repealing the 1995 act. The bill will address various matters related to the disabled with enhanced effectiveness. It will give leverage to various centrally sponsored schemes and programs so as to secure and protect the interest of the beneficiaries. Besides, it will benefit them with a slew of interventions encompassing health, rehabilitation, and education.
Types of disabilities increased from 7 to 21 categories
The bill envisages an increase in the types of disabilities from existing 7 to 21 categories, as 14 new types of disabilities have been incorporated with special provisions for high support needs and benchmark disabilities. The reservation has been enhanced from 3% to 4%. There are provisions for guardianship and grievance redressal mechanism besides a provision for insurance cover for employees with disabilities.
The bill also provides educational, employment opportunities to the disabled
The bill provides for free education of children with benchmark disabilities. It also provides identification of posts in the establishments, which can be held by respective category of persons with benchmark disabilities and reservation of 4% of the total number of vacancies in the cadre strength in each group of posts meant to be filled with persons with benchmark disabilities.
The bill even envisages incentives to employers in private sector
Apart from the educational facilities, the bill envisages incentives to employers in the private sector if at least 5% of their workforce composes of persons with benchmark disabilities. Furthermore, it provides for social audit of all general schemes and programs involving the disabled as well as speedy trial for offences under the act by establishment of special courts.
