THE HINDU Editorial Vocabulary-December 16, 2016- Topic 1
By passing the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities Bill, the Rajya Sabha has adopted a radically
transformative piece of legislation that addresses the concerns of arguably the
most marginalised section of Indian society. The Lok Sabha should lose no time
to approve this Bill in the winter session, bringing to fruition a process that
started with India’s ratification of the relevant UN Convention in 2007. A
measure of the expansive reach of the Bill that the Upper House passed unanimously
is that it is covers as many as 19 conditions — nearly three times the number
of disabilities accorded legal protection under the 1995 law. Included are a
large number of individuals with multiple impairments, who are the most
disadvantaged sections among the disabled. Another welcome provision is the
power to notify additional disabilities, a clear recognition of the need to
factor in conditions that may arise as a result of an ageing population, an
inevitable part of the demographic transition. Relaxation of the upper age
limit to access primary and higher education is clear evidence of foresight,
given the disproportionately low and delayed enrolment of disabled children in
formal schooling. In addition, the incorporation of penal stipulations, a major
omission in the predecessor Act, should go some way towards ensuring more
effective law enforcement.
The increase in the proportion of
reserved positions in public employment and incentives for the private sector
to hire disabled candidates are other important departures. The discretionary
powers for authorities to determine appropriate avenues of occupation for the
disabled would have to be exercised with sensitivity and openness. Experience
shows that new technology enables people with disability to undertake tasks
that may once have been outside their reach. In this regard, the decision to
drop the proposal for the establishment of statutory disabilities commissions
at the national and State levels is a lost opportunity. To vest in an advisory
body the responsibility to monitor enforcement and violations of the law, as
well as financial supervision, is not the most effective approach to promote
equal opportunities and combat discrimination. The number of the disabled in
India is anywhere between 5 and 10 per cent of the population. Their
integration into the mainstream is a developmental and economic imperative. The
Vision 2030 blueprint on sustainable development that is in the works is an
opening for the Centre to spell out its priorities on disabilities.
Vocabulary
Arguably: it may be argued used to qualify the statement of an
opinion or belief.
Example: She is arguably the greatest woman tennis player of all time
Synonyms: possibly, conceivably, feasibly, plausibly, probably, maybe
Fruition: the point at which a plan or project is realized.
Example: The plans have come to fruition sooner than expected
Impairment: the state or fact of being
impaired, especially in a specified faculty.
Example: A degree of physical or mental impairment
Inevitable: certain to happen; unavoidable.
Example: War was inevitable
Synonyms: unavoidable, inescapable, inexorable, ineluctable, assured, certain
Stipulation: a condition or requirement
that is specified or demanded as part of an agreement.
Example: They donated their collection of prints with the stipulation that they
never be publicly exhibited
Synonyms: condition, precondition, proviso, provision, prerequisite, specification
Predecessor: a person who held a job or
office before the current holder.
Example: The new president's foreign policy is very similar to that of his
predecessor
Synonyms: forerunner, precursor, antecedent
Discretionary: available for use at the
discretion of the user.
Example: Rules are inevitably less flexible than a discretionary policy
Synonyms: optional, voluntary, at one's discretion, elective
Avenue: a way of approaching a problem or making progress toward
something.
Example: Three possible avenues of research suggested themselves
Synonyms: line, path, method, approach
Combat: take action to reduce, destroy, or prevent (something
undesirable).
Example: An effort to combat drug trafficking
Synonyms: fight, battle, tackle, attack, counter, resist, withstand, impede
Imperative: of vital importance; crucial.
Example: Immediate action was imperative
Synonyms: vitally important, of vital importance, all-important, vital, crucial