Centre finalises stricter norms for disability certificates; activists seek their withdrawal

The National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled has criticized the recent amendments to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, calling them regressive and harmful to genuine persons with disabilities. The new rules, which were introduced following a controversy involving a dismissed IAS probationer accused of faking her disability certificate, tighten the requirements for obtaining a disability certificate. The NPRD and other disability rights organizations had raised objections to the draft amendments, but their concerns were ignored. The NPRD believes that the amendments do not address the systemic issues that led to the manipulation of the process in the Puja Khedkar case.