My Right to Information
Explaining Section 42 of the RPwD Act 2016
⚖️ There is a law for you.
There is a law in India called the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.
We call it the RPwD Act.
This law gives you power. This law says you must be treated equally.
🏛️ Section 42: Access to Information
Section 42 of the law is very important.
It is about getting information.
The government creates many documents.
Section 42 says: You have the right to understand these documents.
♿ The Government must help you.
The government must give you information in a way you can use.
This could be:
- Electronic formats (for computers).
- Sign Language (for deaf people).
- Easy Read (for people with IDD).
- Audio (to listen to).
🗣️ What can you do?
If a government office gives you a paper you cannot read, you can say:
"Please give me this in Easy Read.
It is my right under Section 42."
The law says
Read Section 42 of the RPwD Act 2016
“The appropriate Government shall take measures to ensure that all contents available in audio, print and electronic media are in accessible format; persons with disabilities have access to electronic media by providing audio description, sign language interpretation and close captioning; electronic goods and equipment which are meant for every day use are available in universal design.”
Source: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (Act 49 of 2016), Chapter VIII, Section 42.
Section 2(y) defines “communication” to include plain-language and augmentative formats. Read with Section 3 (non-discrimination) and Section 40 (standards), this is the basis for Easy Read as an accessible format for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Checked by Manbhavan Validation record: Manbhavan Easy Read Review Panel, 2022 guidance re-checked 2026 — record to be published with the October update.