The Tamil Nadu government has taken a significant step towards inclusivity by introducing two Bills aimed at nominating persons with disabilities to local bodies. These bodies include village panchayats, town panchayats, municipal councils, and municipal corporations.
To facilitate this nomination, amendments are being proposed to the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act and the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act.
If these laws are passed, the proposed reservation would include:
Currently, there are only 35 persons with disabilities represented in urban local bodies in Tamil Nadu, as stated in the Assembly.
This initiative is viewed as a landmark move to empower a historically marginalized group. It aims to ensure their dignity, eradicate stigma, and provide them with a voice in grassroots decision-making processes.
This initiative draws parallels with past affirmative actions, such as the Women’s Reservation Act, which guarantees 33% reservation for women in Parliament and State Assemblies. Similarly, this move seeks to elevate persons with disabilities into leadership roles rather than relegating them to mere symbolic participation.
Reflecting on the experience of women’s reservation, it is crucial for this initiative to avoid pitfalls where elected women were often overshadowed in decision-making by their husbands. The government must ensure that real power and responsibilities are conferred to persons with disabilities.
This initiative has far-reaching benefits for society as a whole. By integrating persons with disabilities into leadership roles, it promotes inclusiveness, enhances public awareness, and introduces diverse perspectives into governance.
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