Guv assent to two bills for naming PwDs to local bodies
Chennai: Governor R N Ravi has given assent to bills amending the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act and Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, enabling the state govt to nominate persons with disabilities (PwDs) to local bodies, a highly placed source told TOI.
The amendments, passed by the assembly in April, aimed at increasing inclusivity and ensuring the voices of PwDs are heard, will result in the nomination of 650 PwDs in urban local bodies, 12,913 in village panchayats, 388 in panchayat unions, and 37 in district panchayats.
"The Governor gave his assent to these two important pieces of legislation. The state govt will soon notify the rules defining the qualifications, rights, and responsibilities of these nominees, with the legislation taking effect from that date," an official said.
The govt will nominate one PwD as a member in each of the local bodies. Councils exceeding 100 members will have two PwD nominated members. The term of office for these nominated members will be co-terminus with the duration of the council.
Rajasthan was the first to nominate PwDs in urban local bodies; Chhattisgarh did so in rural local bodies. "Chief Minister M K Stalin realised our long-pending demand. From the days of a PwD getting rejected in Navamalkapper village in Villupuram in 2010, to 14,000 PwDs to be nominated soon, our struggle has come a long way.
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If only the PwDs form part of decision-making bodies, their rights will become a reality," said T M N Deepak, a disability rights activist.
Disability groups want quotas for PwDs in assemblies and Parliament too. In its 2024 election manifesto, the Congress party pledged to provide reservation for PwDs in local bodies. TNCC Chief K Selvaperunthagai recently sent a communique to the chief ministers of the Congress-ruled states, Karnataka, Telangana, and Himachal Pradesh to follow Tamil Nadu.
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