To,

Her Excellency Smt Pratibha Devi Singh Patil

Hon’ble President of India

SUBJECT: Proposing Amendments in The Constitution of India to Ensure Right To Equality For Persons with Disabilities.

Respected Madam,

Recently Government of India has undertaken the process to bring about the extensive amendments to the Persons with Disabilities Act. This decision is a welcome one. We also deeply appreciate the decision of the Government of India ratifying the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities. However, the concern is much deeper.

Though The Persons with Disabilities Act was enacted in 1996, the corresponding administration and infrastructure required for its forceful implementation has been largely missing. Needless to say that in spite of the various enactments and court judgments, the position of persons with disabilities is extremely vulnerable as they do not enjoy any constitutional protection. The enforcement of rights and accrual of various benefits to persons with disabilities largely rests on the legal interpretation of the statutes and entitles them for citizenship of second status in the country reinforcing stereotypes views about the capabilities and abilities of persons with disabilities.