Latest news with #DisabilityAct
News18
a day ago
- Health
- News18
'Want Bravehearts To...' SC Urges Centre To Consider Insurance, Rehabilitation Of Disabled Cadets
Last Updated: The intervention may lead to policy changes that support future trainees, ensuring no one is left behind due to injury The Supreme Court, in a decisive move to address the overlooked plight of cadets disabled during military training, has initiated a suo motu case against the backdrop of growing concerns over their welfare. According to an investigation by Indian Express, nearly 500 officer cadets have been medically discharged from institutions like the NDA and IMA since 1985 due to training-related disabilities, leaving them to grapple with mounting medical bills and insufficient support. The situation at the NDA is particularly alarming, with 'around 20 cadets medically discharged between 2021 and July 2025 alone", the report stated. Unlike their peers—soldiers who attain ex-servicemen (ESM) status and access the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS)—these cadets fall through systemic cracks because their disabilities occurred before commissioning. The Mint reports that the cadets are forced to rely on a modest ex‑gratia sum—up to Rs 40,000 per month—that scarcely covers medical costs. To remedy this, the Supreme Court urged the Centre and defence establishment to explore several progressive measures: • Enhanced Compensation: Reconsider and possibly increase the existing Rs 40,000 ex‑gratia allowance to reflect actual treatment and support needs. • Rehabilitation Pathways: Devise schemes to reassess cadets post-treatment and, if feasible, reintegrate them into defence roles—perhaps in desk-based positions or related administrative functions. • Legal Protection under Disability Act: Examine the rights of these cadets under the Persons with Disabilities Act for additional remedies. 'This isn't just about compensation," the bench emphasised. 'We want braveheart cadets to continue serving. Disability shouldn't be a barrier to their contribution," the bench noted. The intervention may lead to policy changes that support future trainees, ensuring no one is left behind due to injury. By calling for insurance, raised compensation, and reintegration options, the court has advocated for humane recognition of the cadets' sacrifices. The court has issued notices to numerous key authorities—including the Defence Ministry, Finance Ministry (Defence Department), the Chiefs of Staff of all three services, the Ex‑Servicemen Welfare Department, and the Ministry of Social Justice—seeking their responses. The matter has been scheduled for further hearings on September 4. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Irish Examiner
18-06-2025
- Health
- Irish Examiner
Assessment of need reform 'not code for taking away the right to it', says HSE chief
HSE chief executive Bernard Gloster pledged reform of the assessment of need (AON) system is not code for removing children's right to this at the Oireachtas Disability Committee on Wednesday. Waiting lists in Cork and Kerry were also raised and he is concerned about long delays facing children there in particular. Families nationally should see faster access to services by October with a 'no wrong door' system in place, he also said. This means if the first service a family encounters is not the best place, they can be referred to a more suitable service instead of starting over each time. Mr Gloster was answering questions on Progressing Disability programmes. 'Assessment of need, I believe, needs reform, that's not code for taking away people's right to it and it's not code for changing the timeline but it has actually become something it was never intended to be,' he said. 'Every single need across public services and across Ireland Inc is now being tagged to assessment of need either because people are led to believe they need it or they form the belief that they'll get something faster.' That's leading to children who really need it being delayed and children who don't need it being put through it. I have concerns about both. Labour spokeswoman on disability, Laura Harmon, said in the first three months of this year 'just 7% of assessment of needs were completed within the timeframes of the Disability Act itself". Mr Gloster said his focus is on 'ensuring that the legislation defines the purpose of the assessment and enables access to it". He is not aware of plans to change the requirement AON should be done within six months of referral. Ms Harmon said of Cork City waiting lists for primary care assessment for autism 'we're seeing 30 months waiting lists'. Mr Gloster responded: 'I have a particular concern about Cork', saying he has discussed with the regional team the need for better focus on children's services there. 'No wrong door' He described meeting GPs during the Irish Medical Organization AGM, saying they talked of how time-consuming it can be to match children to the most appropriate service. 'We're changing it to 'one front door' and there is no wrong door,' he said, saying this will take effect from October. Teachers, parents, and GPs are among those who can refer to a central system for assessment. 'They will decide what's at least the best chance of the quickest pathway for that child to receive an appropriate response. That will include the Autism protocol,' he said. Social Democrats TD Liam Quaide raised delays with primary care, saying this is 'deep in crisis' in addition to stresses facing Camhs and children's disability network teams. For primary care psychology, the waiting list for children is now over 6,500 'and that's for Cork and Kerry alone,' he said. Children might wait four to five years for help and then only get seven sessions, he added. Mr Gloster met 600 staff online this week from disability, primary care and mental health services for children to discuss staffing plans. HSE HR officials set out plans for recruitment to the committee, saying there is a global shortage of therapists and there are plans to increase training places. Read More Cara Darmody: The law breakers are at the Cabinet table
Irish Independent
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
No immediate solution: Mary Regan on growing political problem around assessment of needs
And that was just from the Government benches. Children's Minister Norma Foley got ahead of a combined opposition joint motion on the issue with a press conference that started with the declaration: 'The system is a broken system.' But when it came to what is to be done about it, the minister, and the political system as a whole, are far less certain. Under the Disability Act, children are entitled to an assessment in a timeframe of six months. But that legal obligation is only being met in 7pc of cases. So 93pc of children are not being assessed in the statutory timeline, which was put in place for a good reason: because timely intervention is a vital component in ensuring better outcomes for a child where a disability or neurodivergence is identified.
Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Indian Express
Supreme Court grants anticipatory bail to ex-IAS probationer Puja Khedkar in UPSC cheating case
The Supreme Court Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to ex-IAS probationer Puja Khedkar in UPSC cheating case in which she was accused of submitting fake disability certificates. An FIR was registered against Khedkar in July 2024 under charges of forgery, cheating, violations of the IT Act, and the Disability Act, based on a written complaint filed by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). On April 21, the Supreme Court had directed Khedkar to appear before the Crime Branch for questioning on May 2 and ordered the police not to take any 'coercive steps' against her. During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General S V Raju had informed the court that her custodial interrogation was necessary to identify the individuals who assisted her in obtaining and preparing the fake disability certificates. On May 2, she appeared before a Delhi Police Crime Branch team at the Kamla Market office around 10 a.m. and remained there for around eight hours. 'She was asked multiple questions related to the case. She was also requested to submit certain documents,' officials said.
Irish Examiner
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Cara Darmody begins 50-hour protest to highlight disability assessment delays
Tipperary youngster Cara Darmody has vowed to "win and end disability discrimination" as she begins a 50-hour protest at the gates of Leinster House. Cara, aged 14, from Ardfinnan in Co Tipperary, said the Disability Act has been "systemically broken" for almost a decade as delays for assessments of needs look set to reach 25,000. Cara was initially motivated to pursue her advocacy because her two brothers — 12-year-old Neil and 8-year-old John — are autistic and have severe to profound intellectual disabilities. The issue of the backlog will be raised today throughout the Dáil schedule, with the opposition backing a Sinn Féin motion on the issue. An assessment of need is carried out to identify if a child, children, or young person has a disability. It is designed to identify their health needs as well as service requirements. Once the HSE receives an application, there is a legal requirement for the assessment of needs to be completed within six months. The number of applications overdue for completion at the end of March 2025 stood at 15,296 — an 8% increase on the figure from the end of 2024. However, throughout the first quarter of this year, just 7% of assessments were completed within the timeframes set out in the Disability Act 2005 and its accompanying regulations. In response to a parliamentary question from Labour TD Alan Kelly, the HSE said demand for the assessments continues to outstrip system capacity — despite increases in activity and commissions to private assessors. The HSE anticipates that, by the end of the year, there could be as many as 24,796 assessments due for completion.
