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Include all disabled people in RTE: PM to HRD ministry
New Delhi, Aug 12: Barely a week after the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry managed to pass the landmark Right to Education (RTE) Bill amidst protests by disabled rights groups, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is learnt to have asked the ministry to ensure that no disabled child is left out of the ambit of the legislation that promises free and compulsory education to all children aged 6–14 years. The PM's letter comes soon after he assured disabled rights activists that their concerns would be addressed.
After being passed by Parliament last week, the landmark legislation is awaiting Presidential assent. Indications are that an amendment will be moved later to ensure that all disabilities are covered under the Bill's definition of 'disability'.
The long–pending legislation had run into controversy when soon after its introduction in the House social activists pointed out that provisions of the Bill left almost 30 million disabled children out of its ambit. Activists said the Bill ignores the rights of disabled children by not providing for disabled–friendly facilities, by not including "disability" with the definition of "disadvantaged sections" and by not including the mentally disabled people within the definition of "disability."
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/
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