Hyderabad: BRS MLC Sravan Dasoju on Monday urged the State government to fully implement disability rights under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, calling for action beyond symbolic compliance.
Addressing the Legislative Council, Sravan Dasoju appealed to the Chief Minister to uphold the true spirit of inclusivity. While he acknowledged the recent notification of five per cent reservation in higher education, he said the step remained inadequate without broader reforms.
However, he cautioned that partial execution had weakened the law’s impact on thousands of families. According to him, disability rights could not remain confined to government orders while real needs persisted on the ground.
Describing ground realities, Sravan Dasoju said parents continued to struggle for basic legal entitlements. Often, families moved from one office to another to claim benefits guaranteed under the Act. Consequently, poor and middle-class households suffered the most.
Referring to the law’s scope, he said the Act recognised 21 categories of disabilities, including autism, chronic neurological conditions and mental illness. Yet, he said poor awareness among educators and the lack of early diagnostic centres deepened exclusion.
Disability rights demand comprehensive reforms
Placing specific demands before the Council, Sravan Dasoju called for extending five per cent reservation to all public and private institutions from the primary level onwards. He argued that limiting benefits to higher education left many children behind.
In addition, he urged the government to establish state-funded therapeutic centres. At present, he said, families relied on costly private facilities, which imposed severe financial strain.
To strengthen early intervention, Sravan Dasoju sought the appointment of trained psychologists and special educators in every school. As a result, he said children with disabilities would receive timely support and avoid long-term setbacks.
He also pressed for full fee concessions and strong scholarship schemes. According to him, poverty should never cut short a child’s education.
Further, he proposed creating dedicated monitoring bodies at both State and district levels. Such oversight, he said, would ensure institutions complied with disability rights laws in practice.
Calling inclusivity a moral responsibility, Sravan Dasoju said a just society must protect its most vulnerable citizens. Therefore, he urged the government to work with medical professionals and voluntary organisations to build inclusive systems.
“Our children are our future,” he said, adding that equal opportunity alone could secure a humane and equitable Telangana.