Current Affairs 14 December 2019 for UPSC Exam

Contents

1. Accessible India Campaign
2. Disha Act

Accessible India campaign

To make public places accessible to people with disabilities.

Target has been extended because of the slow implementation of the scheme. Target has been extended till march 2020

Accessible India Campaign is in line with the Article 9 of UNCRPD(UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities) to which India is a signatory since 2007.

About accessible India campaign

Implementing Ministry: The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment

Targets

1. Completing accessibility audit of at least 25-50 most important government buildings in 50 cities and making them fully accessible by the end of 2018
2. Making 50% of all the government buildings of NCT and all the State capitals fully accessible by December 2018.
3. Completing accessibility audit of 50% of government buildings and making them fully accessible in 10 most important cities/towns of States not covered in targets (i) and (ii) by December 2019.

Extra Coverage:

Disha Act, 2019

Why in news ?

The AP Legislative Assembly has passed the Andhra Pradesh Disha Act, 2019 (Andhra Pradesh Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2019).

What is it?

• The bill provides for awarding death sentence for offences of rape and gangrape and expediting trials of such cases to within 21 days.

• The Act envisages the completion of investigation in seven days and trial in 14 working days, where there is adequate conclusive evidence, and reducing the total judgment time to 21 days from the existing four months. 

• It prescribes life imprisonment for other sexual offences against children and includes Section 354 F and 354 G in IPC.

• In cases of harassment of women through social or digital media, the Act states two years imprisonment for the first conviction and four years for second and subsequent convictions.

• Introducing women and children offenders registry

• In cases of molestation/sexual assault on children under the POCSO Act, 2012, punishment ranges from a minimum of three years to maximum of seven years of imprisonment.

• Establishment of exclusive special courts in every district of Andhra Pradesh

• Reducing appeal to 3 months for disposal of rape cases 

• Constitution of special police teams and appointment of the special public prosecutor in special courts