HimVani
Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh government was quick to constitute a state coordination committee under the Disability Act to look into disability-related issues, but nothing much seems to be happening after that. Ajai Srivastava, member of the committee and chairman of Umang Foundation has now demanded that the meeting of the said committee be called immediately.
The minister for social justice & empowerment is the chairperson of this statutory committee. Srivastava in a press statement said that keeping in view several issues related to persons with disabilities which are pending with the department of social justice & empowerment and that meetings of the statutory committees under the Disability Act are not held as per the norms and mandate of the Act, an urgent meeting is required. He said the functioning of the department has always been under the scanner as far as disability rights and child rights are concerned. He expressed grave concern on the failure
of the minister for social justice & empowerment in bringing out the much awaited state policy for persons with disabilities.
It is pertinent to mention that the minister had announced on July 1, 2008 in a programme that the said policy would come up within two months but the department is still keeping mum on the issue. He demanded that the policy for persons with disabilities be announced in the ensuing session of the Assembly.
