Implement RPDA-2016 for disabled, demands National Platform for Rights of Disabled

Eluru: A large number of physically challenged under the aegis of National Platform for Rights of Disabled (NPRD) West Godavari unit, staged a dharna at the Collectorate here on Monday demanding that the government implement the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act-2016 that aimed at the welfare of disabled.

Addressing the disabled, NPRD district committee chairman B Somayya and general secretary Alladi Nataraj said the parliament has passed the new act for the welfare of the disabled in last December. However, even after one year, the State government has failed to draft rules and regulations of Act, he said and added the handicapped will get four per cent reservation in education and employment, 5 per cent in welfare schemes if the new act was implemented.

Under the new act, the government should allot Rs 7,500 crores in the budget, he said and added the state act also clearely states to pay a pension of Rs 5,000 to handicapped.

The leaders demanded the government to set up Sadaram camps in mandal centres to issue handicapped certificates. Later, they submitted a memorandum to the collector. NPRD committee members Pallem Venkateswara Rao and Dalli Theresa led the dharna.