‘New law should ensure social security for mentally-challenged’

SHIMLA - The new disability law should ensure social security cover for the mentally-challenged in the country, the apex

federation representing the parents of persons with mental retardation demanded here Thursday.

“The new law should have a provision of a monthly pension of Rs. 1,000 for the family members of all the categories of disabled, including the mentally-challenged,” J.P. Gadkari, president of Bangalore-based Parivaar, told reporters. Parivaar is the apex federation of associations of parents of persons with mental retardation.

He said there should be one percent reservation for these persons in all categories of government jobs on the pattern of reservation for hearing and speech-impaired and physically-challenged.

The union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is replacing the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act of 1995 with a new law. It has constituted a panel comprising NGO representatives and government functionaries to draft the new law.

“The Parivaar (also a member of the panel) would submit its recommendation to the panel in December,” said Gadkari, who is here to attend the two-day regional meeting of parents’ representative of persons with mental retardation, beginning Friday.

The Parivaar is the only apex national-level organisation having 203 parent associations and NGOs working for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities.