Skip to main content
  • Accessibility
  • Headlines
  • Coronavirus-News
  • Get-Hooked
  • Technology
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Parasports
  • Ask Bhavna
  • NHBrandView
  • Independent Living
  • Lifestyle
  • NH Videos
×
Newz Hook – Changing Attitudes towards Disability Logo
  • Stories
  • Videos
  • Inclusive
  • NH Voice
  • Login
COVID-19 Notification by Government in Accessible Format

Accessibility Tools

Text Size:

Contrast Scheme:

  • C
  • C

Reset

  • Home
  • Accessibility
  • ‘If cobblers, vendors, domestic help are included for food grains distribution, why not disabled’, asks Delhi HC

‘If cobblers, vendors, domestic help are included for food grains distribution, why not disabled’, asks Delhi HC

Exterior image of Delhi High Court
Accessibility September 8, 2020
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)

The Delhi High Court has questioned why disabled people are being excluded from getting subsidised food grains under the food security law when cobblers, street vendors and domestic help are considered eligible. This was said during a hearing by the court into a counter affidavit filed by the central government which contained the categories of persons and households which are eligible for subsidised food grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and related schemes.

“Why is this (disabled) category not added? When you are including cobblers, street vendors and domestic servants, then why not disabled for whom a separate Act has been enacted by Parliament. It is just to help them. You add a category. Why this category has been forgotten?”

This was the question posed by a bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan to the Centre during a hearing into an affidavit it had filed that contained details of persons and households currently eligible for subsidised food grains under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) and similar schemes.

The Centre’s affidavit was in response to a PIL by the NGO National Federation of Blind (NFB). The NGO has sought directions to the Centre and all states and union territories to provide benefits of various food security and poverty alleviation schemes, like Pradhan Mantri Garib Anna Kalyan Yojana to disabled people during the Covid pandemic.

What the NFB petition says

The NFB has contended that under the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995, a 3% reservation was provided for all persons with disabilities in poverty alleviation schemes. This was increased to 5% when the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act 2016 came into force.

The NFB petition adds that given how economically marginalised people with disabilities are with many in institutions or neglected by families, they are unable to get ration cards. Under the NFSA, the Centre has to ensure states and union territories identify people with disabilities who are eligible for food grains under the various schemes and provide them the same.

Lack of ration card no grounds for denial

The petition has sought a direction to the Centre to “consider the cases of persons with disabilities and visually impaired persons even without ration cards on the basis of their disability certificates and/or Unique Disability ID (UDID) for getting benefit under National Food Security Act” and the Pradhan Mantri Garib Anna Kalyan Yojana.
It has also sought that food grains be provided free of cost to poor disabled people like was done for migrant workers during the pandemic.

The Delhi High Court bench said that if the Centre cannot address this issue, “we will pass orders”. It also said that in every society or civilisation priority must be given to women, children, senior citizens, people with disabilities, people in jails as well as those with intellectual disabilities.

The Centre has sought time to respond to these directions by 29 September when the matter comes up for hearing next.

Also Read:

  • Delhi High Court tells Centre to consider providing free food grains to disabled people

Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today

We need your continued support to enable us work towards Changing Attitudes towards Disability. Help us in our attempt to share the voices of people with disabilities that enable them to participate in the society on an equal footing!

Contribute to Newz Hook

NH Videos

Healing pain through art - Dr. Anubha Mahajan, Founder Chronic Pain India

Read more on Newz Hook

  • Accessibility,Independent Living
    New batches of Online Group Yoga for persons with blindness/lo-vision

Contribue to Newz Hook |Disability news. Support us to make NewzHook Sustainable – Make a Contribution Today.

Newsletter

 Subscribe to our Newsletter

Want to feature disability stories or share disability news with the disabled community? Write to:

editor@newzhook.com

Related News

Accessibility

New batches of Online Group Yoga for persons with blindness/lo-vision

Newz Hook - Accessible News

Download App Now!

Videos

View More

Get-hooked

Playback singer Archana Vijayan is thrilled as first song gathers praise

Get-hooked

#DisabilityInfluencers- Preetha Thonnakkal uses social media to raise awareness about the disabled community

Get-hooked

Teenager with learning disability makes modelling debut in Amazon's latest advertisement campaign

Get-hooked

Cherish your life with all its unique flaws and blessings- My Take by Sundari Sivasubbu, Author

Newz Hook Logo

About Newz Hook

Newz Hook | Disability News - media site focusing on Disability Stories and Changing Attitudes towards Disability globally. We highlight disability news, offer inclusive solutions and create accessible collaborations. Our focus is to have Inclusion Champions from across the globe who will share disability stories and news.
Lets come together to change attitudes towards disability!

Newz Hook is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Follow us on:

Related Links

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Partner with Newz Hook
  • Embed Newz Hook Timeline
  • Affiliate disclosure
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Contribute to Newz Hook

Our Awards

Zero Project Award Winner 2018
Back To Top
© 2019 All Right Reserved. Inclusive News India Private Limited.

Ask Bhavna

All fields are mandatory unless specified as optional.