New Delhi: Disabled persons comprise six per cent of the population of Delhi.
* A year ago, the Delhi government had announced a social security stipend for disabled persons. To qualify, applicants need to be registered with the Special Employment Exchange, Ministry of Labour, for three years.

* The Persons With Disabilities Act (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) is the country’s first law to protect the rights of disabled persons. It was enacted in 1995. As per the Disabilities Act, “state governments and local bodies are to provide services, facilities and equal opportunities to people with disabilities for participation as productive citizens”.

* Three major PILs under the act are pending with the Delhi High Court. The first deals with disabled friendly infrastructure and modes of travel, the second with better facilities for disabled persons at the Delhi University and a third on social security and other sops for the disabled.

* The high court’s attention was first drawn to limited access for disabled persons at Delhi’s tourist spots, especially monuments, when world famous theoretical physicist and author of A Brief History of Time, Stephen Hawking, was initially denied permission to use ramps at heritage sites during his 2001 visit.

* As per the Disabilities Act, every child with disability should have access to free and adequate education till the age of 18.

* For eligibility under the act, a person should be certified by a medical authority as having not less than 40 per cent disability.

* The Delhi Coordination Committee should consist of 23 officials and five non-official members.

* At present, the government should reserve three per cent of posts in public jobs, while government schools are to reserve three per cent of the total number of seats for the disabled.

* Attempt to commit fraud under the Disabilities Act shall be punishable with up to two years’ imprisonment or fine up to Rs 20,000.

* The office of the chief commissioner for Persons with Disabilities is located at Sarojini House, 6, Bhagwan Dass Road.

* Source: The office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and Javed Abidi, convenor, Disabled Rights Group.

Source: http://www.expressindia.com/
Monday, December 24, 2007