Web 2.0

Vijay is right as for the United Nation Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCRPD). India signed this convention in March 2007 and ratified it in October 2007. One of the eight guiding principles of this convention is “Accessibility”. Also according to Article 21 of the convetion "Freedom of Expression and Opinion, and Access to Information" covers the provision of public information to persons with disabilities in accessible format and appropriate technologies,  encouraging private enterprises providing services, including via the internet, to enable such services in accessible and usable formats, and likewise for mass media providers. This convention came into effect in May this year. Hopefully we will see more serious thought and action on web accessibility in view of this convention.

There are several other laws dealing with disabilities in India.

• The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act,1995 governs the general rights for people with disabilities in India in connection with education, employment and public utilities such as transport and buildings/premises access . One of the key section in this act deals with non-discrimination. However, a clause used in defining the provisions says “ [Authorities / Governments / Entities shall  provide ] within the limits of their economic capacity and development….”. This in itself a huge indication of the likely results for such provisions. 

• Another regulation that deals with disability in India is The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999. One of the stated objectives of this act is “to facilitate the realization of equal opportunities, protection of right and full participation of persons with disability”. This act specifically discusses provisions for legal guardianship of the four categories of disabilities and the creation of an environment for enabling as much independent living as possible for such people. 

• A yet older act is the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992 and its recent amendment in 2000 which deals with the development of manpower for providing rehabilitation.

• A more recent addition to the set of regulations is National Policy for Persons with Disabilities released in 2006. The policy “seeks to create an environment that provides them (persons with disabilities) equal opportunities, protection of their rights and full participation in society services”. It deals with prevention of disabilities, rehabilitation measures, social security, and creation of a barrier free environment besides several issues related with persons with disabilities.

So it is evident that there is no dearth of legislation that can be resorted to when it comes to equal rights and opportunities for people with disabilities in India. However, the question on their implementation remains as difficult as ever.