New Delhi, Feb 11: In view of the vulnerability of people with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilites to exploitation, parents and relatives should appoint a legal guardian for such persons to handle their legal matters, an expert said today.
People with such disorders have impaired capacity for
informed decision making, Aloka Guha, chairperson of the
national trust for the welfare of persons with autism,
cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilites,
told reporters here.
The guardian would take all legal decisions on behalf of
the person and regarding his or her property, Guha said adding
the legal guardian could be a family member, one outside the
family or even a non-governmental organisation.
The guardianship was necessary as there had been cases
where a person with such disorders was denied the share in the
property by his or her healthy siblings and their surviving
parents were not able to exert any pressure due to their own
dependent state, she said.
The trust formed under the national trust for the welfare
of persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and
multiple disabilities Act 44 of 1999, had been instrumental in
appointing about 560 legal guardians in such cases in its
existence of one and a half years.
The trust was also involved in raising the issue of
separate identity cards for autistic people, Guha said adding
currently the health ministry was considering the matter.
The trust is instrumentalised through local initiatives
called local level committees headed by district collectors.
Currently there are 369 local level committees in 26 states and
four union territories.
Bureau Report
