July 24, 2019
Our #StoryOfTheWeek is on the introduction of a new bill in the Tamil
Nadu Assembly that gives people with disabilities and leprosy the right to
participate in civic body elections.
A bill long overdue that the government of Tamil Nadu has finally stepped us
to bring into force. Now people with disabilities and leprosy are eligible to
contest civic elections in the state, something the community has been
demanding for years now.
Under the Chennai City Municipal Corporation Act and the
Tamil Nadu District Municipalities Act., people with
disabilities were barred from contesting civic polls and only recently was
the matter taken up seriously by cabinet minister S P
Velumani, who handles local administration. Barely hours after he
tabled this bill in the Assembly, it was approved.
It all began when T Kavitha, a hard of hearing person in
Chennai was denied permission to contest the civic body elections due to her
disability. Those who have been fighting for this are happy but say this is
just the first step towards inclusion in the political arena.
TMN Deepak, Founder, 3 December Movement
says the community must now fight for reservation.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities is clear that equal political rights must be guaranteed
to people from the disabled community. Till date, neither the states nor the
Centre have worked towards this, leaving the community marginalised and
side-lined. Discrimination towards people with disabilities continues and
perhaps greater political participation by the community is the only way to
change this.
“It is a great welcome move. Any decisions made about persons with
disabilities must include us, and most decisions for people including
marginalised groups are made by politicians. So there need to be political
representation from persons with disabilities”, says Smitha
Sadasivam, disability rights activist from Tamil Nadu.
Murli Dharan, General Secretary, National Platform
for Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) feels the Tamil Nadu government
has taken a progressive step. “This is indeed a great step towards inclusion
and a welcome move. I believe participation of people with disabilities and
leprosy in politics is not only about contesting in elections. They can play
an important role in other governing matters as well. We have many people
with disabilities who are actively taking part in politics”. Introduction of
such bills are vital and needs to be followed by other states, says
disability rights advocate Nipun Malhotra.
“This has been pending for long. But finally, it happened. I will give a
thumbs up for anything that promotes inclusion. Participation of people with
disabilities and leprosy in political matters is definitely going to be
great”, says Nipun.
The Bill is here, now begins the task of ensuring that the provisions are
implemented so people with disabilities and leprosy are well ad truly a force
in politics.
ALSO READ: Tamil Nadu disability groups give a push to greater sensitization
of people in positions of authority
