Leprosy Mailing List – November 18th, 2007
Ref.: Proposed
Amendments to Persons with Disabilities Act, India (see attachment 1 & attachment 2).
From: Soutar D., London, UK
Dear Dr Noto,
I was encouraged to read recently that India is one of the
first countries to formally ratify the new UN Convention on the Rights
of People with Disabilities (UNCRPD).
I would however like to draw your readers’ attention to
some proposed amendments to the existing definition of “leprosy
cured person” in the existing Persons With Disability Act (1995) of
the Indian government. (See Chapter 1 Section 2(n).) These amendments
attached are being proposed by the Indian Ministry of Social Justice
and Empowerment and would appear to limit the definition to only those
with a WHO Grade II disability. It seems to me that this
would result in a situation where the many thousands of “leprosy
cured persons” who do not have a visible Grade II disability but who
nevertheless suffer discrimination, stigma and disability as result of
a “lesser” WHO grading, will no longer be covered by this Act.
I wonder if any of the organizations of people affected by
leprosy in India and their supporters are seeking to address this
matter with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment?
Regards,
Douglas Soutar
Mr Douglas Soutar
General Secretary
International Federation of
Anti-Leprosy Associations
doug.soutar@ilep.org.uk
www.ilep.org.uk
Tel: + 44 (0)20 7602 6925
In attachment :
<< goameeting.pdf >>
<< Proposal agreed by
GOM1.pdf >>
