New Delhi, Sept 11: Government today set up two national commissions to deal with the problems of disabled persons and those of denotified, nomadic and semi-nomadic tribes. Approval for establishing the commissions was given at a meeting of the Union Cabinet presided by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

The national commission for persons with disability would advise the union and the state governments and the union territory administrations in the matters related to disability and also review the prevailing situation, offer suggestions and rehabilitation services and make recommendations. The commission would comprise nine members, including a chairperson, two full-time members, a member secretary and five other associate members who shall be persons of eminence and involved in rehabilitation and advocacy of the rights of persons with disability, an official spokesman said. It would have at least two women members.
The commission which would be a permanent body would have a tenure of three years except the member secretary, the spokesman said. Around four to five per cent of India's population numbering over five crore people suffers from several kinds of physical or sensory disabilities.

The cabinet also approved the proposal to set up a national commission for one year for denotified tribes, nomadic tribes and semi-nomadic tribes. It would comprise five members, including a chairperson. Bureau Report