The Punjab Government has decided to add 14 new disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disability Act-2016 taking the total number to 21.

Announcing this, the state Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Razia Sultan on Tuesday said: “With this, the financial and other benefits of other social security schemes would be extended to more number of disabled persons.”

The decision was announced during the first meeting of the State Advisory Board on disabilities, constituted under the Rights of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPWD), to review the working of different mentally retarded homes being operated in the districts.

Razia said that the previous seven disabilities were blindness, low vision, leprosy-cured, hearing impairment, loco-motor disability, mental retardation, and mental illness. “As per the new Act, 21 disabilities are covered under eight groups — loco-motor disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment, chronic neurological conditions, persons affected with blood related disorders, developmental disorders, mental illness, and multiple disabilities,” she said.

She added that these eight groups contain 14 new disabilities like leprosy cured person, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, acid attack victims, autism, learning disabilities, muscular dystrophy, deaf, hard of hearing, multiple sclerosis, parkinson's disease, hemophilia, thalassemia, sickle cell disease.

Razia further said that presently, four mentally retarded homes are being operated at Amritsar, Ludhiana, Kapurthala and Rajpura (Patiala). “Homes at Kapurthala and Amritsar are meant for girls whereas mentally retarded homes at Ludhiana and Rajpura are being operated for boys only,” she said.

“To evaluate the condition of these Mentally Retarded Homes, committees under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioners have been constituted for all four districts which will consist of the representative of Health Department, Social Security Department, Education Department, Sports Department and one prominent NGO working for the welfare of Mentally Retarded Children,” she said.

The minister said that this Committee has been mandated to evaluate the working of Mentally Retarded Homes within three weeks and to suggest the remedial measures to overcome the deficiencies in these Homes.

Punjab Government has invited suggestions and comments from the general public and other stakeholder on the draft Rules, uploaded on the Punjab Government’s website, framed under the RPWD Act-2016.

She said that in the new Act, punitive provisions have also been incorporated for the contravention of the provisions of the Act and Rules. “Any person who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act shall be punished with fine up to Rs 10,000 and in case contravention is repeated, he may be fined with not less than Rs 50,000 and it can be extended to Rs five lakhs,” she said.
Source: http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/chandigarh/punjab-to-cover-21-disabilities-under-new-rights-of-persons-with-disability-act.html