On September 12, 2024, the Centre for Law and Policy Research (CLPR) and Karnataka Vikalchetanara Sanghatane (KVS) organized a ‘Know Your Rights and Entitlements’ (KYRE) session. This session was specifically designed to educate the local community about the rights and legal options available to persons with disabilities. The session drew participation from activists, members of community-based organizations, and persons with disabilities seeking to expand their knowledge of their rights. CLPR and its Paralegal Volunteers Team and KVS members made presentations on the various rights and entitlements accessible to persons with disabilities.
Session 1: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
Advocate Robin provided a comprehensive overview of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act), emphasizing its role in ensuring reasonable accommodation in both public and private spheres. The discussion underscored the government’s obligation to eliminate access barriers, facilitate full participation of persons with disabilities in public life, and implement reservations in government employment. Furthermore, it highlighted the imperative of upholding non-discriminatory principles in recruitment processes.
The conversation revolved around the ongoing challenges encountered by persons with disabilities, even after the introduction of relevant laws. Community members highlighted the limited accessibility in public spaces and facilities. Moreover, it was noted that crucial establishments like schools lack staff with essential abilities, such as proficiency in sign language or the understanding and support needed for children with disabilities.
Session 2: Challenges faced by persons with disabilities in accessing legal remedies
Advocate Muninarayanswamy, a Constitution Defender Fellow with CLPR, discussed the obstacles that hinder persons with disabilities from fully realizing their entitlements. He highlighted the discrimination they face when dealing with the police, who often refuse to register FIRs or file non-cognizable reports. Instead, persons with disabilities are often pressured to settle cases without seeking legal redress.
Muninarayanswamy highlighted the severe lack of reasonable accommodation by addressing the case of Shakunthalamma and Narayanappa, who are persons with disabilities living in Nellimaradahali. They were attacked by villagers who wanted to take away their property. The police in their case refused to intervene or protect the victims, and they also refused to invoke the RPwD Act. It was only when PLVs of CLPR and KVS stepped in that the SP of Chikkaballapur agreed to organize a discussion. During the discussion, members of the local community shared their experiences in dealing with law enforcement authorities, pointing out a general indifference and lack of sensitivity among them.
Session 3: Discussion on the importance of Disability Identity Cards, Reservations in jobs, getting access to pension etc.
Kiran, KVS President and CLPR PLV, stressed the importance of identity cards, Aadhar cards, disability cards and job cards, and highlighted the lack of access persons with disabilities are faced with when trying to apply for the identity cards. Given that significant welfare benefits are linked to these documents, the lack of access to identity cards leads to further economic marginalization.
Moreover, issues of outreach and awareness plague the community, as people are often unaware of what government measures and benefits exist. In this regard, he urged that the PLVs ensure people have access to information and processed for the benefits they are entitled to.
The sessions were followed by an extensive interactive discussion and the attendees detailed various ongoing civil and criminal disputes they were involved in. They sought the aid and advice of the lawyers from CLPR, who walked them through each case and the legal remedies available step by step and asked them to reach out for any additional help that was required.
