Rights Of Persons With Disabilities Bill

SC verdict asks filmmakers not to stereotype or lampoon differently abled

Differently abled and derision have often gone hand in hand in mainstream Hindi cinema with numerous instances of impairments, visual, speech, physical and others, being used to get laughs mostly unkind. A trend activists and lawyers hope will end with the Supreme Court's recent game changing verdict. Stereotyping differently abled persons in cinema perpetuates discrimination and inequality, the apex court said last week while asking filmmakers to refrain from misleading portrayals and laying down terms such as crippled and spastic that should not be used. Humour can be an important element because it sometimes spreads the message about disability and acts as a tool for awareness, said Nipun Malhotra, who filed the petition that led to the Supreme Court verdict. "But there is a subtle difference between humour that is creating awareness and laughing at situations with people in disability space and humour that laughs at the disability itself. The Supreme Court, in its judgement, ha

Govt inks MoU with NGO to create accessible space for disabled people

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities has inked an MoU with a Gujarat-based NGO to advance training programs on accessibility in an effort to create more inclusive spaces for those suffering from disabilities. The MoU between the department and the NGO EnableMe Access Association (EMA) was signed on July 9. A copy of the MoU, shared with PTI, outlines two initial training programs: "Advanced Training in Accessibility" for empanelled accessibility auditors and Central Public Works Department engineers. These programs aim to educate participants on Indian accessibility standards, universal design perspectives, and the National Building Code and Harmonized Guidelines and Space Standards (HGSS). Training will be conducted in offline, online, and hybrid formats, featuring instructors with disabilities to offer firsthand insights and foster empathy. To support these training initiatives, DEPwD and EMA will develop and maintain software tools for accessibility ...

Centre introduces interactive employability skills course for PwDs

These guidelines, meticulously tailored for both physical and digital skill training infrastructure, stand as a beacon of inclusivity for individuals with diverse disabilities

Airlines in India need to implement Rights of PwD Act provisions: Ruling

All airlines, including foreign companies, operating in the country are responsible for implementing the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, the Court of Chief Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities said. The court's ruling came after it took suo motu cognisance of a post on 'X' by Smrithy Rajesh alleging that her son, who has Autism, was ill-treated at the Bangalore airport by SriLankan Airlines employees. The court's findings revealed a lack of awareness and sensitivity towards the needs of individuals with disabilities on the part of the airline's employees and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), it said. The court also highlighted that the SriLankan Airlines' policy, if it necessitates medical clearance for select categories of persons with disabilities before boarding a flight, is inconsistent with the global civil aviation requirements. "All airlines, whether Indian or foreign, operating in the country are responsible for ...

Amazon India inks pact with 5 states to empower persons with disabilities

Amazon India has signed a pact with five state governments to engage with employable Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and enable their participation in the mainstream workforce. These states are Haryana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The memorandum of understanding which extends until 2026 aims to provide skilling and employment opportunities to PwD candidates in the five states. "With an aim to engage with employable Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and to enable their participation in the mainstream workforce, Amazon India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with five State Governments, including Haryana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu," Amazon said in a release. With this, Amazon aims to provide PwDs support with on-the-job training, intervention and an environment of acceptance and inclusion. "The opportunities will be provided across Amazon's Operations Network, that is fulfilment centres, sortation centres and delivery stations for ..

Divyang artisans, entrepreneurs to showcase products at 'Divya Kala Mela'

The event will be held from June 29 to July 5, 2023, at the Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur, Rajasthan

Just dedicating a day to the disabled won't help make their lives easier

International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD): The WHO estimates that more than one billion people - about 15% of the world's population - experience some form of disability

Decriminalising offences in RPwD Act will have negative impact: Activists

The Finance Ministry last month proposed to decriminalise minor offences, including those relating to cheque bounce and repayment of loans, in as many as 19 legislations

Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill passed in LS

The bill seeks to enhance reservation for Divyangs in government jobs from three per cent to four per cent