The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, by notification F.No. 16‐38/2006‐DD.III dated 30th April 2010, constituted a Committee chaired by Dr Sudha Kaul with members representing persons with disabilities, NGO’s and experts from the disability sector, to draft a new legislation to replace the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 (“PwD Act”). The Committee was advised that it could invite other experts, and representatives of other Ministries/ State Governments/ Autonomous bodies to participate in its deliberations, as Special Invitees. On the demand from a certain section of the Disability Rights Group, two more persons with disabilities were inducted in the Committee as Member and a Special invitee, to ensure representation across all disability groups (List of Committee members ‐ Annexure 1). On the Committee’s recommendation, the Centre for Disability Studies, NALSAR University of Law Hyderabad was appointed as Legal Consultants to the Committee on the 2nd of August 2010. During the course of the Committee’s deliberations three committee members (Ms Syamala, Shri Rajiv Rajan and Ms Bhargavi Davar) sent their resignations to the Ministry in January 2011 due to differences in perception of the Committee’s work and mandate given to it by the MSJE. Their resignations were accepted by the Ministry on 25th January 2011. Their contribution to the discussions is gratefully acknowledged by the Committee.