A NIGERIAN delegation on June 27, 2013, joined other International Negotiators at a Diplomatic Conference convened by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to adopt a Treaty to facilitate access to published works by Visually Impaired Persons and Persons with Print Disabilities (Beneficiary Persons).
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court has directed the state government to constitute a panel for monitoring and ensuring that 1% quota as provided by the rules for the visually disabled is fulfilled within six months. The court has sought an action-taken report after six months.
People living with visual impairment can be assisted to achieve self-reliance instead of living dependent lives, the Rwanda Union of the Blind (RUB) has said.
"There is wrong society's perception that the blind do not deserve opportunities or assistance offered to other people engaged in income generating projects," said Rachel Musabyimana, RUB communication and advocacy officer.
Blind people defeat lobbyists in a tussle about copyright
Despite the government having promised visually challenged graduates employment opportunities through reservation, most blind people haven’t been able to land those jobs, said representatives of the College Students and Graduates Association of the Blind.
“The government has said that 1 per cent of the public sector jobs will be reserved for us, but we haven’t seen it implemented. When they talk about equality, they should also create opportunities,” said Nagarajan, President of the Association.
Despite our otherwise imperfect record in recognising the rights of people with disabilities, it is a matter of some pride that India’s copyright law anticipates the Marrakesh Treaty of the World Intellectual Property Organisation that has now legalised the right to read for an estimated 314 million blind and print disabled. The most notable common provision in the new treaty and India’s copyright law is the waiver of prior approval from authors and publishers for the reproduction and distribution of works into any alternative format, precluding commercial gain.
The treaty will make access to books for the visually impaired, blind and print disabled easier
The mood was one of celebration at the Marrakesh Palais des Congrès to greet the success of World Intellectual Property Organization negotiators in their attempt to produce a draft treaty text showing consensus. After a difficult start to the week, delegates achieved success and the corridors of the conference centre echoed with laughter and congratulations. Tears of joy were shed as most celebrated this as an historic agreement. Visually impaired people and civil society supporting them were ecstatic, some said overwhelmed.
Urging India to take lead the cause of the disabled, a coalition of NGOs from over 15 states have come up with a draft recommendation demanding integration of disability in the broader national and global discourse.
Disability has not been included in the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDG) of 2000, which is nearing end of its time-frame in the year 2015. Therefore, rights activists say it is better to focus on evolving a new framework rather than dwelling upon the "shortfalls in the MDG."
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