To what extent, the recently passed Right of Persons with Disabilities Bill is "enabling" with respective to the persons with mental illness? Critically examine.
In an effort to realise the goal of sugamya Bharatiya abhiyaan I.e empowerment of person with disabilities ,parliament has recently passed right of person with disabilities 2016
Right of person with disabilities bill 2016(Ropd) is an improvement over previous disability Act .The former is more inclusive and right based approach rather than charity based approach.Disability is of two type physical and mental.Among this mentally disabled are more vulnerable and face discrimination at all level.They face challenges such as
1.)socially excluded because they are perceived to be abnormal.
2.)lack of employment opportunities because they are not deemed to be suitable for work which push them towards vicious circle of poverty.
3.)lack of mental healthcare at primary level and treatment meted to them is not done in a humane approach.
4.) difficulty in procurement of disability certificate because of which they are unable to avail benefit of government scheme.
5.)Old aged are more vulnerable and dependent on others because of various disease like Alzheimer and Parkinson because of lack of social security
6.)social stigma
the current bill seek to address the challenges faced by this section of society
1.)done away with disability certificate and it will link their identity with aadhar card.
2.)reservation in educational and employment opportunities
3.)Inclusion of Parkinson disease in disability list which will help old aged person in availing social security
4.)stringement punishment for person who discriminate against them
However it failed to talk about universal mental healthcare which is guaranteed under right to mental healthcare bill.There is need for synchronisation of both.Stringenment punishment is not a solution to attitudinal behaviour of society.there is need for making society empathetic towards this vulnerable group and there is a need to understand that disability is not out of their impairment but it is society which has disabled them.
Topics: GS-II: Social Sector Services Education Human Resources