SAARC tour by disabled for world peace

With the messages of global peace and harmony, a group of specially-abled people has set out on a tour across the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries.

The SAARC is an economic and political organization of eight countries in Southern Asia.

There are six volunteers including four on wheel chair. They got their pass for the world tour from the Nepal Ministry of foreign affairs. They started off from Kathmandu and will pass through India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and even Afghanistan if possible.

Santosh Yadab, a physically disabled member in the group feels, that there should be peace everywhere.

“Presently the world is caught in vortex of violence. We are on a peace walk. We want to make an appeal to the people around us to stop harming each other. Our sole purpose of this walk is that we want there to be peace everywhere,” Yadab added.

The World Peace tour will conclude in 3 years and 9 months.

Man accused of raping relative with disability

This story shows power of law, if most of countries have such laws the violance against people with disabilities can be reduced.

A man was charged Thursday with sexually assaulting a female relative with a mental disability.

Raymond Burroughs, 61, was charged with first-degree rape and incest. The 58-year-old woman told relatives on March 25 that she had been assaulted, said Capt. Loyd Baker of the Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit.

Tests at DCH Regional Medical Center confirmed that she had been assaulted. Investigators questioned Burroughs on Thursday and arrested him that afternoon. They collected a DNA sample that will be tested by Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences investigators.

Rape is classified as first-degree if the victim is incapable of consent because he or she is physically helpless or mentally incapacitated, according to Alabama law.

Burroughs was in the Tusca- loosa County Jail on Friday morning with bail set at $30,000 for the rape charge, $15,000 for the incest charge and $300 for a harassment charge.

India: Implementation of Job quota

Section 33 of the Persons with Disability (Equal Opportunity, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 provides for 3% reservation in government employment, including 1%each for disabled persons suffering from (i) blindness or low vision; (ii) hearing impairment and (iii) loco motor disability or cerebral palsy. Moreover, a special recruitment drive has been initiated recently to fill up backlog vacancies for posts reserved for persons with disabilities.

No directions have been issued to the private sector to create jobs for disabled persons. However, a new Scheme of Incentives to the Private Sector for Employment of Physically Challenged Persons has been launched, w.e.f. 01.04.2008. Under this Scheme, the Government of India provides the employer's contribution for Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance (ESI) for 3 years, for physically challenged employees employed in the private sector on or after 01.04.2008, with a monthly salary upto Rs. 25,000.

This information was given by Shri D. Napolean , the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha today.