The Rights of persons with Disabilities Act is a milestone among the enactments in India. It was enacted on 27-12-2016. This Act exclusively relates to the rights of the less fortunate human beings in India to impart them equal rights in their social, legal, personal and public rights that are accessible and enjoyed by other citizens. This Act was the results of the cry of the hour were people with disabilities had to confront discrimination in every walk of their life. This Act was enacted by extra ordinary Gazette notification subject to Article 253 of the Constitution of India and United Nations Conventions principle for the rights of the disabled people. The Act has 102 elaborately mentioned sections dealt with every aspect of discrimination and severe problems faced by the disabled people in this society and put forth every possible remedy ensuring equal rights and justice. This Act replaced the persons with Disabilities (equal opportunity, protection of right and full participation Act 1995.
Chapter 2 of the Act comprehensively is the rights and entitlements of every disabled person in the country. The act ensures imprisonment to any person who intimidates disabled people and there by protects the dignity of a disabled person to live in this society. Another important progressive implementation is the 3-4 percent reservation quota in the employment sectors ensuring right to job to secure their life with financial security. Another vital feature of this Act is the free education provision for disabled children from age of 6 to 18. Disabilities related to physical and mental are detailed including mental illness, dwarfism, hearing impairment, blindness and any other deformities mentioned comes under the purview of the act . Along with the defined disabilities acid attack victims are also recently listed as disabled people. Section 6 deals with protection from abuse and inhuman treatment empower them to lead a normal life. Apart from different sections that defines protection for home, family and job in the Act the role to be played by the Government for securing the rights through implementation of provisions is also thoroughly provided in the Act including state level committees and both state and central level advisory board to address to find remedy for the issues of the disabled is also stated in the Act giving ample authority for the State and Central Government. The state and central Government funds are used for the implementation of the provisions.
The Act had created awareness in the society to consider the rights of the less fortunate people and to have an egalitarian approach towards them without any prejudice there by imparting sole purpose of the Act bring disabled people to the mainstream of the society protecting their rights and to live a dignified life.
