UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi Wednesday said the government hoped to pass amendments to the Rights of the Disabled act in the next session of parliament.

 

 "The disabilities act, 1995, is being amended in accordance to the United Nations convention. The cabinet has recently approved the amendments and I am confident that in the next parliament session we would get it passed," she said at Samarth, a function organised to showcase the special abilities of disabled children here.

 

 This amended bill, which seeks to replace the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995, attempts to bring India in line with the 21st century understanding of the rights of persons with disabilities as captured in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) ratified by India.

 

 "We have to understand that every person has his or her own needs and abilities," Gandhi said, adding that disabled children should be connected to the mainstream and their issues be made a part of development policies of the society and government.

 

 As per the 2011 census, there are 2.68 crore persons with disabilities and they constitute 2.22 percent of the over 110 crore population of India.