Rights of Persons With Disabilities Act (RPwD Act)

Why in News?

Recently, a government committee rejects inclusion of 9 new medical conditions in RPwD Act disability list.

• RPwD Act, 2016 – It is an act that Replaced the PwD Act, 1995, to provide rights, dignity, and equal opportunities for people with disabilities.
• Under the Schedule of the RPwD Act – Individuals affected would have legal recognition as persons with disabilities and become eligible for a range of benefits and protections.

“Person with benchmark disability” is a person with not less than 40% of a specified disability, it has been defined in measurable terms, as certified by the authority.

• Committee led by – The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) and chaired by DEPwD Secretary.
• The committee observations on 9 new rejected medical conditions
• Palmoplantar keratoderma – Severe cases with functional impairment could already be addressed under the existing category of locomotor disability.
• Single-sided deafness – The disability percentage does not cross 16.66 even when hearing loss is profound in one ear overall hearing capacity is not significantly compromised.
• Epilepsy – Chronic Drug Refractory Epilepsy has already been recognised under "chronic neurological conditions" in the disability-assessment guidelines of March 2024.
• Factor-XIII deficiency – A rare blood disorder, rarely causes major physical limitations, can be accommodated within locomotor disability.
• Ichthyosis – A skin condition, patients with severe functional restrictions can again be included under locomotor disability provisions.
• Asthma – It is a chronic but treatable disease that does not result in long-term disability, cannot be included in the list.
• Laryngectomy – It has been already covered under "speech and language disability" as defined in the 2024 DEPwD guidelines.
• Vital organ failure – These conditions require medical treatment, transplantation or palliative care, and are best dealt with through healthcare and social-security schemes.
• Ostomy – This involves surgically creating an opening for waste elimination and is considered a medical outcome rather than a permanent disabling condition.

Reference

The Hindu| Rights of Persons With Disabilities Act