Policy News

Visually impaired enabled for top CSS groups

LAHORE - The Lahore High Court yesterday directed the federal government to appoint the visually impaired candidates with Foreign Service or District Management Group who had passed Central Superior Services’ exam with distinguished marks.

The court also set aside new amendment in CSS rules by declaring it as contrary to the Constitution. Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah passed the order while hearing petitions of Yousaf and Faisal Majeed, the visually impaired candidates who successfully passed CSS exam.

No separate data kept by state

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, January 10

While the Election Commission of Delhi introduced a non-visual desktop access (NVDA) on its website around a year ago for persons with disabilities (PWD), the Election Commission of India (ECI) and the EC, Punjab, are yet to provide the facility to blind voters.

Surprisingly, the state does not maintain a separate data for visually impaired voters and those suffering from various physically and mental ailments.

Group life insurance policy for visually impaired

The local unit of the National Association for Blind (NAB) has announced a group life insurance policy for 700 visually impaired students, to mark the Louis Braille Day.

Do we really care for special children?

Of course it is a positive development to term children with disabilities ‘special or gifted children’ but similar things should happen in Urdu, Sindhi and other languages as we still tend to refer to them as maazoorin Urdu/Sindhi or have just translated the same word which is not understood very well. Changing a language is the first and foremost step towards changing behaviour of the public at large. But it appears that it has failed to influence the existing belief, “once disable, always disable”. As a result, special children are considered a liability, burden and a shame.

New currency notes a problem for visually impaired

Demonetisation has created a new demon for the city's visually impaired, who are struggling to identify the new notes on the basis of length and width

STATE DIVYANG COMMISSION WOULD START FROM NEXT YEAR: CM

State Divyang Commission has been formed this year and it would start functioning from January, next year, said Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat while addressing the gathering at Uttarakhand Divyang Utsav-2016 held at Parade Ground on Saturday. This Utsav was held under the aegis of social welfare department and Hans Foundation to mark the occasion of World Disabled Day.

RS PASSES DISABILITIES BILL; DISCRIMINATION TO EARN 2-YR JAIL

The Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014, stipulating up to two-year jail term and a maximum fine of `5 lakh for discriminating against differently-abled persons. The Bill was passed unanimously despite the ongoing Winter Session witnessing uproar and repeated adjournments over demonetisation issue. The Lok Sabha is expected to pass it before the session ends on Friday.

RPWD Bill slated to empower a large number of disabled people

HYDERABAD: With the Rajya Sabha passing the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWD) Bill, 2014 on Wednesday reactions came pouring in from groups as well as individuals working for safeguarding the rights of the disabled.

It is being claimed that the Bill, which on its clearance by Lok Sabha will replace the PWD Act, 1995, will make a large number of people eligible for more rights and entitlements on the basis of their disability.

Government plans special for specially-abled on December 3

BHUBANESWAR: Specially-abled people from across the State will be participating in an array of events on December 3 on the occasion of the International Day for Persons with Disability. The events, to be organised by Department of Social Security and Empowerment of PwDs (SSEPD), include ability marathon, exhibition, film festival on disability awareness, photography competition and cultural events.

Camp held to issue disability certificates