Jaipur: As the assembly elections in Rajasthan draw closer, the demand for amending the Panchayati Raj Act to make provision to nominate specially-abled persons to panchayati raj bodies is gathering momentum.

Divyang Adhikar Mahasangh, a civil society group for the rights of persons with disabilities (PwDs), has written to chief minister Ashok Gehlot, citing a letter written by the CMO to the panchayati raj department in 2009 asking it to act in the matter. Also cited is a a notesheet, signed by former social justice and empowerment minister Arun Chaturvedi, asking the directorate of specially-abled persons to make a proposal in this regard and send it to the cabinet for approval.

“The state government has decided to nominate specially- abled persons as councillors in each municipality, city council, municipal corporation under the Rajasthan Municipal (Amendment) Act, 2021. Therefore, with a view to ensuring participation of persons with disabilities living in rural areas in the panchayati raj bodies, efforts should be made to amend the Panchayati Raj Act,” said Hemant Bhai Goyal, national president of Divyang Adhikar Mahasangh.

He said it was notable that the Congress government in Chhattisgarh has made a provision to nominate persons with disabilities in the three-tier panchayati raj bodies. “ it is worth mentioning that many letters and circulars have been sent to the state government by the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities, government of India, in this regard,” he said.