Nearly 40 disabilities representatives from India and abroad participated in the roundtable conference, organised by National Center for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) along with by Disabled Peoples’ International, at Jaypee Vasant Continental Hotel.

“We picked India for this pilot workshop as it is one of the first countries to have ratified the UN CRPD,” Mary Ennis, executive director of Disabled Peoples’ International, said.

India ratified the convention on October 1, 2007, which is to come into force as soon as 20 countries ratify it, organisers said.

Javed Abidi, NCPEDP honorary director and moderator in the discussions, said: “We will give a memorandum to the government very soon. Our key demand is that the Prime Minister’s Office monitor the implementation of the convention,” he said.

He said the disability sector should not be restricted to the Ministry of Social Justice alone but across various ministries.

The participants also requested that the amendment to domestic laws be made “transparent and accountable”. They said lawyers, architects, and human resources managers should be sensitised on the potential of this convention.

“The government has to set up an implementation checklist so that we know what has been done and what is still to be done,” an organiser said.

The roundtable, which was inaugurated by Justice S Rajendra Babu, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, insisted on the necessity to spread awareness especially in rural areas.