As LS debated Disabilities bill, Mulayam spoke of development in UP

NEW DELHI: As a result of a brief government-Opposition truce in the Lok Sabha on Friday, Parliament cleared the Disabilities Bill, with the lower House giving its nod to the legislation already passed by the Upper House earlier this week.

Among many other provision, the bill envisages to increase facilities and welfare for the differentlyabled and stipulates a jail term up to two-years and a maximum fine of .`5 lakh in case anyone shows discrimination to them. While passing the bill, Congress and other Opposition members forced a voting on amendments moved by K Kavita and KC Venugopal of TRS and Congress, respectively, demanding to raise the reservation in the bill from 4% to 5%.

Their amendments were defeated 121 to 43 votes. Replying to the debate, minister of social justice and empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot announced that a scheme of ‘universal identity card for the disabled’ was on the anvil and an agency had already been finalised for the purpose.

The proposed card would also be linked to Aadhaar to help the disabled all over the country in a seamless fashion, he said. Gehlot said the universal identity card was being worked upon to overcome the problem of disability certificate being faced by those affected.

The debate also witnessed a comical scene when SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav spoke on the facilities provided by the UP government for girls’ empowerment despite the Speaker and other members telling Yadav that the topic of discussion was disability the bill.