PIL Filed for disabled person in Madhya Pradesh during COVID-19

WP (PIL) 7794/2020 Akhilesh V/S State Of MP | High Court of Principle seat Jabalpur Madhya Pradesh | Status: Disposed | |


Petitioner has filed the instant petition praying for appropriate direction to the respondents to exercise their powers under various legal provisions and take immediate measures in the interest of the Persons with Disabilities (hereinafter referred to as PwD) who are being drastically affected by the COVID-19 lockdown.

B.   This is in reference to the current outbreak of COVID 19 which has affected lakhs of people in various ways and claimed around 3000 lives so far. This PIL is specifically with regard to the dire situation of PwD in the light of Covid-19 & Lockdown, calling for immediate intervention, with monetary and material support by the state government /respondents.

C.   According to the NSS Survey, 2018, only 23% of adults with disabilities are working, while just 4.2% are unemployment. This indicates that over three-fourths (77%) of PwD are depends upon other family members and government welfare schemes for their livelihood and survival.Of those employed, the majority are involved in low productive agriculture sector, low income self-employment and casual work. So, the majority of people with disabilities who are employed are engaged in informal or low paid activities and are likely to be heavily affected by the lockdown

D.   A lack of accessible information and its dissemination, a faulty built-in environment and negative social attitudes towards PwD are matters of grave concern, particularly as these times put their lives and livelihood at serious risk. Considering that PwD have no income to sustain themselves and the benefits of government schemes announced in their favour are either too small or never reached them; immediate cash assistance, home delivery of ration and other essential commodities, and immediate medical assistance and treatment for PwD is of utmost concern.

E.    The petitioner and various other NGOs and platforms like Madhya Pradesh Viklang Manch and its General Secretary Mrs. Kiran Patidar, Pragatishil Viklang Kalyan Trust-Khargone, Aadarsh Divyang Kalyan Samiti on various occasions through tweets and letters have brought to the notice of the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment and members of Lok-Sabha the dire situation of PwD as detailed above in Point D. However, no reply or acknowledgements to letters and tweets respectively was received by any of the NGOs or platforms mentioned above.



Attachments

    https://slic.org.in/uploads/2020/09-September/30-Wed/akhilesh%20petition%20f.docx
    https://slic.org.in/uploads/2020/09-September/29-Tue/PIL%20Disablity%202020.docx