Read the following passage carefully and answer the questions given below it. Certain words have been given in bold to help you locate them while answering some questions.
Introduced in 2014, towards the end of UPA-II’s tenure, The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2014, was passed in the Rajya Sabha.
The government brought 119 amendments to the Bill, and this legislation has been pending the House since February 2014. Being brought to comply with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, this Bill replaces the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
In September 2014, the Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment.
What is important about this?
The earlier Act identified only seven disabilities, while this Bill has increased the number of conditions recognised to 21. It also allows the government to notify any other condition as a disability.
The amended version also recognised two other disabilities not previously considered — disability due to acid attacks and Parkinson’s Disease. Persons with at least 40 per cent of a disability are eligible for reservation in education and employment, and preference in government schemes.
This Bill also gives several rights to persons with disabilities, such as access to public spaces that were previously inaccessible. There is also a clause that places of employment cannot discriminate against persons with disabilities.
For those with mental illnesses, guardianship can be granted by district courts — either as limited guardian or plenary guardian. A limited guardian is one who will make decisions in consultation with the mentally ill person, and a plenary guardian makes decisions for them without their inputs.
The existing Act does not have any punitive clauses. But the new Bill makes it clear that violation of any provision is punishable with imprisonment up to six months, and/or fine of Rs 10,000. Subsequent violations will have higher fines, but the amended version may do away with prison time.
What do you mean by the word “Plenary”?
01. Punitive
02. Exemplary
03. Inclusive
04. Absolutely
05. Complete
Ans (5)
Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
01. The government brought 119 amendments to the Bill before introducing it in the parliament finally.
02. Violation of any provision is punishable with imprisonment up to half a year.
03. Bill has increased the number of conditions recognised to 21.
04. The Bill was referred to the Standing Committee on Social Justice and Empowerment.
05. Disability due to acid attacks and Parkinson’s Disease was introduced formally.
Ans (5)
Which of the following is NOT TRUE according to the passage?
01. Person with 60 per cent ability was eligible in the new bill.
02. A limited guardian does not make decisions in consultation with the mentally ill person
03. Places of employment cannot discriminate against any person.
04. There are two types of guardianship limited guardian or plenary guardian.
05. The earlier Act on disability identified only seventeen disabilities.
Ans (2)
Give a suitable title for the passage?
01. The bill
02. Disability – Route to amendments
03. The Amendment bill – distorted and discriminated
04. Disability- A step towards empathy
05. Disability – reform reaffirmed
Ans (4)
Choose the word most similar in meaning to the word given in bold, as used in the passage.
Guardianship
01. Caretaking
02. Grudgingly
03. Perceptible
04. Fickle
05. Sporadic
Ans(1)
Choose the word which is most nearly the OPPOSITE in meaning as the word given in bold as used in the passage.
Inaccessible
01. Distant
02. Impassable
03. Insurmountable
04. Aloof
05. Reachable
Ans (5)
