Stating that persons with disabilities are a valuable human resource, India today told a UN meet that it was committed to ensure that they not only enjoy their rights, but also are provided opportunities to lead their life to their fullest potential.
"We will continue our commitment to ensure that the persons with disabilities enjoy their rights as well as are provided with appropriate opportunities to lead their life to their fullest potential," said Sangita Gairola, the Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, at the conference of State Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities at UN General Assembly.
The unified National Policy for Persons with Disabilities developed in 2006, she said, recognises that such persons are valuable human resource for the country and seeks to create an environment that provides them equal opportunities, protection of their rights and full participation in society.
It comprehensively spelt out the goals towards full acknowledgement and exercise of all human rights of persons with disabilities as well as promotion of a broad commitment to accessibility, autonomy and equality of opportunity in different spheres of activities, Gairola said.
"Needless to say, this policy was created due to our strong belief that persons with disabilities can lead a better quality of life if they have equal opportunities and effective access to rehabilitation measures," she said.
Further, in order to ensure that the disabled people in every corner of the country are reached, Gairola said the Act and the national policy is currently being implemented at various levels of governance.
India is also a member of the Global Partnership for Disabilities and Development (GPDD) and a regular participant in the meetings of the GPDD, she said.
"Consequent upon our ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, we have started a comprehensive nation-wide consultative process to amend our existing Acts so that national legislations are harmonized with the respective Articles of the Convention. Several amendments have been formulated and are under consideration of the government," she added.
