New Delhi: After almost three weeks of chaos and acrimony witnessed in both the Houses over demonetisation, which washed out the entire Winter session, the Parliament on the last day of the session on Friday, passed the Disabilities Bill which stipulates up to a two-year jail term and a maximum fine of Rs 5 lakh for discriminating against differently-abled persons.
The Lok Sabha passed the Bill within two hours after a short debate on the last day of the session with the treasury and Opposition benches, who have been at loggerheads over demonetisation and other issues, joining hands to clear the legislation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the House during the passage of the Bill.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Rajya Sabha too had witnessed a similar bonhomie for passage of The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2016.
Replying to the debate, union minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot told Lok Sabha that a scheme of ‘universal identity card for the disabled’ is on the anvil. The proposed card would be linked to the Aadhaar card, he said.
