L-G help sought on disabilities law

New Delhi: The implementation of the rules under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities law in the national capital has been delayed due to the definition of “government”, which has emerged as a roadblock. The law department has informed the AAP administration that the term “state government” has not been defined in the Act, which was passed by Parliament in December 2016.

The government has now approached lieutenant-governor Anil Baijal, who is the administrative head of the national capital as per the prevailing constitutional arrangement, to give necessary approvals so that the rules under the Act can be notified, social welfare minister Rajendra Pal Gautam said.

Following L-G’s approval, the government will write to the home ministry to issue a notification empowering the L-G to notify the rules in his capacity as the “government”, a note circulated by administration said.

“Leader of the Opposition Vijender Gupta has tried to mislead people by claiming that the state government is deliberately delaying the process when the fact is we do not have the requisite powers to notify the rules,” Mr Gautam said.

On Thursday, Mr Gupta had sought urgent adoption of the law saying it would bring much needed positive changes in the lives of the disabled residing in Delhi.

As per Census 2011, there are over 2 lakh disabled persons in the city, which includes only seven categories of disability listed in the earlier Act, which has now been increased to 21. The new categories include mental illness, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, chronic neurological conditions, etc.