UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday assured that the Disabilities Bill seeking to provide disabled persons five per cent reservation in public sector jobs will be brought for passage in the lok Sabha in February.
The new Bill also adds several new disabilities to the existing list to ensure that more people with special needs have access to jobs and better livelihood.
“The Disability Act of 1995 is being amended to meet the norms of the UN convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. Union Cabinet has given its nod to the amendments. I have full faith that we will be able to pass it in the next session,” Sonia said addressing a gathering at ‘Samarth-2014’ organised by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
In December last year, the Union Cabinet had approved the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill to replace the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act of 1995.
The Bill covers a variety of issues relating to the disabled persons such as physical, mental and multiple disabilities.
Sonia called for a need to link the issues of the disabled with the mainstream of the society and the Government and make their development a key component of policies.