A Step in the Right Direction

At a time when the parliamentary logjam has wiped out almost the entire winter session of Parliament, it is heartening to see legislation like the Rights of Persons With Disabilities Bill being passed

(Not Quite Enabling Legislation). The amended list of disabilities ensures that the survivors of acid attacks are protected, which will be widely regarded as a positive step. However, there is also a need to bring in cultural change—people’s attitudes toward the disabled need to evolve. Laws must work in tandem with a collective mindset that demands equal rights and spaces for all. The role of education and awareness in creating such a sensibility cannot be overemphasised.