## Report on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017 Amendment (Draft Notification)
**1. Executive Summary:**
This report analyzes a draft notification regarding an amendment to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017, as published by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. The amendment focuses on incorporating specific Indian standards for accessibility of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services. The key finding is the explicit inclusion of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) guidelines concerning ICT accessibility, which is expected to improve the usability of digital resources for persons with disabilities.
**2. Introduction:**
This report aims to provide an informative overview of a draft notification proposing amendments to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017. The analysis is based solely on the provided policy text and focuses on understanding the nature of the changes, their implications, and potential impact.
**3. Policy Overview:**
* **Original Policy:** Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017.
* **Core Objective(s) (Inferred):** The amendment seeks to enhance the accessibility of ICT products and services for persons with disabilities by incorporating specific Indian standards. This aligns with the broader objectives of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, which aims to ensure equal opportunities, protection of rights, and full participation of persons with disabilities in society.
**4. Background and Rationale:**
This amendment addresses the need to provide concrete and specific standards for ICT accessibility. It seems to be a refinement of the existing framework, addressing potentially ambiguous or general requirements in the original rules. The inclusion of specific BIS standards provides clarity and enforceability, likely prompted by the recognized importance of digital accessibility and the potential for technology to either empower or exclude individuals with disabilities.
**5. Key Provisions / Changes:**
This is an amendment to rule 15, in subrule 1, clause c of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017. The key change is the insertion of the following item after item ii:
"iii Accessibility for the ICT products and Services as per Indian standards of Bureau of India Standards vide IS 17802part 1 2021 as per notification no. HQPUB01312020PUBBIS278 dated 24.12.2021 and IS17802 part2, 2022 as per notification no. HQPUB01312020PUBBIS358 dated 04.05.2022;"
* **Specific Part Changed:** Rule 15, subrule 1, clause c of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017.
* **New Rule/Provision:** ICT products and services must now adhere to Indian Standards as defined by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) vide IS 17802 part 1 2021 and IS17802 part 2, 2022, as specified in the notification.
* **Difference/Effect of Change:** This change introduces specific, measurable standards for ICT accessibility. Before this amendment, the accessibility requirements might have been more general. The inclusion of the BIS standards means that ICT products and services will now need to demonstrably meet these standards to comply with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules.
**6. Target Audience and Stakeholders:**
The target audience and stakeholders directly affected by these changes include:
* Manufacturers and providers of ICT products and services.
* Government agencies involved in procurement and development of ICT solutions.
* Persons with disabilities who rely on accessible ICT.
* Organizations working in the field of disability rights and advocacy.
**7. Implementation Aspects (Inferred):**
* **Responsible Agency/Bodies:** Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Bureau of Indian Standards.
* **Timelines/Procedures:** The amendment comes into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette. The text also outlines a period of thirty days for public feedback and suggestions before the draft rules are finalized. The mechanisms for verifying compliance with the new BIS standards are not detailed in this particular text but would likely fall under existing enforcement mechanisms of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.
**8. Expected Outcomes / Impact of Changes:**
The likely intended outcome of these specific changes is to:
* Improve the accessibility and usability of ICT products and services for persons with disabilities.
* Provide clear and measurable standards for manufacturers and service providers to follow.
* Facilitate better procurement practices within government agencies, ensuring that ICT solutions are accessible.
* Promote greater inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in the digital sphere.
**9. Conclusion:**
The draft notification amending the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017, represents a significant step towards enhancing ICT accessibility in India. By incorporating specific Indian standards from the Bureau of Indian Standards, the amendment provides clarity and enforceability, potentially leading to more inclusive digital experiences for persons with disabilities. The implementation and enforcement of these standards will be crucial in realizing the intended outcomes and ensuring that ICT truly empowers individuals with disabilities.
Key Entities Referenced
RAJESH KUMAR YADAV: Jt. Secy.
New Delhi: Location where the notification was issued.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017: The rules being amended by this notification.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: The Act under which the rules are being amended.
Shri D. K. Panda: Under Secretary to the Govt. of India, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Divyangjan, to whom objections and suggestions may be addressed.
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Divyangjan: The department under the MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT responsible for the notification.
Pandit Deen Dayal Antyodaya Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, 110003: Address where Shri D. K. Panda can be contacted.
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Amendment Rules, 2022: The short title of the amended rules.
Bureau of India Standards: Indian standards organization.
IS 17802part 1 2021: Indian standards of Bureau of India Standards related to Accessibility for the ICT products and Services.
IS17802 part2, 2022: Indian standards of Bureau of India Standards related to Accessibility for the ICT products and Services.
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT: The ministry responsible for the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Divyangjan.
Mayapuri, New Delhi: Location of the Government of India Press.
Delhi: Location of the Controller of Publications.
रजजस्ट्री स.ं डी.एल.- 33004/99 REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99
सी.जी.-डी.एल.-अ.-01082022-237792
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ऄसाधारण
EXTRAORDINARY
भाग II—खण् ड 3—ईप-खण्ड (i)
PART II—Section 3—Sub-section (i)
प्राजधकार स ेप्रकाजित
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
स.ं 535] नइ ददल्ली, सोमिार, ऄगस्ट्त 1, 2022/श्रािण 10, 1944
No. 535] NEW DELHI, MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 2022/SHRAVANA 10, 1944
सामाजजक न्यायऔरऄजधकाररता मत्रं ालय
(ददव्ागं जन सिजिकरण जिभाग)
मसौदा ऄजधसचू ना
नइ ददल् ली, 26 जुलाइ, 2022
का.अ. 608(ऄ).—ददव्ांगजन ऄजधकार जनयम, 2017 म ें संिोधन करन े के जलए कुछ जनयमों का जनम्नजलजखत
मसौदा, जजस े केंद्र सरकार ददव्ांगजन ऄजधकार ऄजधजनयम, 2016 (2016 की 49) की धारा 100 की ईप-धाराओं (1)
और (2) म ें प्रदत्त िजियों का प्रयोग करते हुए ईि धारा की ईप-धारा (1) के ऄनुसार आससे प्रभाजित होने िाले सभी
संभाजित व्जियों की सूचना के जलए प्रस्ट्ताजित करती ह;ै और एतद्द्वारा यह सूचना प्रदान की जाती ह ै दक ईि मसौदा
जनयमों को ईस तारीख स े तीस ददनों की ऄिजध की समाजि के बाद जिचार दकया जाएगा, जजस तारीख को अजधकाररक
राजपत्र की प्रजतयां जजसम ें यह ऄजधसूचना प्रकाजित की जाती ह,ै जनता के जलए ईपलब्ध कराइ जाती ह;ै
अपजत्तयां और सुझाि, यदद कोइ ह,ैं श्री डी के पांडा, ऄिर सजचि, ददव्ांगजन सिजिकरण जिभाग, कमरा नंबर
519, 5िीं मंजिल, पंजडत दीन दयाल ऄंत्योदय भिन, सीजीओ कॉम्प्लेक्स, लोधी रोड, नइ ददल्ली-110003 को, संबोजधत
दकये जा सकते ह ैंऄथिा panda.dk@nic.in पर इमेल स े प्रेजित दकय े जा सकत े ह;ैं
ईि मसौदा जनयमों के संबंध म ें दकसी भी व्जि स े ईपरोि जनर्ददष्टऄिजध की समाजि स े पहले प्राि होने िाली
अपजत्तयों और सुझािों पर केंद्र सरकार द्वारा जिचार दकया जाएगा।
मसौदा जनयम
1. लघिु ीि षऔर सीमा.—(1) यह जनयम ददव्ांगजन ऄजधकार (सिं ोधन) जनयम, 2022 कह े जा सकते ह।ैं
(2) यह जनयम अजधकाररक राजपत्र म ें प्रकािन की जतजथ स े प्रिृत्त होंगे।
5181 GI/2022 (1)2 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA : EXTRAORDINARY [PART II—SEC. 3(i)]
2. ददव्ांगजन ऄजधकार जनयम, 2017 म,ें जनयम (15) के ईप-जनयम (1) के ऄनच्ु छेद (ग) म ें मद संख्या (ii) के
बाद जनम्नजलजखत मद सख्ं याऄन्तस्ट्थाषजपत दकया जाएगा, नामतः–
“(iii) अइसीटी ईत्पादों और सेिाओं म ें सुगम्पयता अइएस 17802 (भाग 1) :2021 ऄजधसूचना संख्या
HQ-PUB013/1/2020-PUB-BIS(278) तारीख 24.12.2021 और अइएस 17802 (भाग 2): 2022
ऄजधसूचना संख्या HQ-PUB013/1/2020-PUB-BIS(358) तारीख 04.05.2022 म ें जनजहत भारतीय मानक
ब्यूरो के भारतीय मानकों के ऄनुसार; ’’
[फा. स.ं 38-02/2022-डीडी-III]
राजेि कुमार यादि, संयुि सजचि
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
[Department of empowerment of persons with disabilities (divyangjan)]
DRAFT NOTIFICATION
New Delhi, the 26th July, 2022
G.S.R. 608(E).–The following draft of certain rules to amend the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
Rules, 2017, which the Central Government proposes to make in exercise of the powers conferred by sub-sections (1)
and (2) of section 100 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (49 of 2016), is hereby published as
required by sub-section (1) of the said section, for the information of all persons likely to be affected thereby; and
notice is hereby given that the said draft rules shall be taken into consideration after the expiry of a period of thirty
days from the date on which the copies of the Official Gazette in which this notification is published are made
available to the public;
Objections and suggestions, if any, may be addressed to Shri D. K. Panda, Under Secretary to the Govt. of
India, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Room No. 519, 5th Floor, Pandit Deen
Dayal Antyodaya Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, 110003 or by email at panda.dk@nic.in;
The objections and suggestions, which may be received from any person with respect to the said draft rules
before the expiry of the period specified above, will be considered by the Central Government.
DRAFT RULES
1. Short tile and extent.—(1) These rules may be called the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
(Amendment) Rules, 2022.
(2) They shall come into force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2017, in rule 15, in sub-rule (1), clause (c), after item (ii),
the following item shall be inserted, namely:-
“(iii) Accessibility for the ICT products and Services as per Indian standards of Bureau of India Standards
vide IS 17802(part 1) 2021 as per notification no. HQ-PUB013/1/2020-PUB-BIS(278) dated 24.12.2021 and
IS17802 (part-2), 2022 as per notification no. HQ-PUB013/1/2020-PUB-BIS(358) dated 04.05.2022; ”
[F. No. 38-02/2022-DD-III]
RAJESH KUMAR YADAV, Jt. Secy.
Uploaded by Dte. of Printing at Government of India Press, Ring Road, Mayapuri, New Delhi-110064
and Published by the Controller of Publications, Delhi-110054.