Updates on council
Dear Members,
Today dated March 24, 2021, Time 3.05 PM will always be remembered for the profession of occupational therapy and AIOTA, as after clearance in Rajya Sabha on 16th March 2021, Lok Sabha has also passed the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2020, to regulate and standardise the education and practice of occupational therapy in India. The Bill is also notified in Gazette of Government of India on March 28.2021.
It indeed is a historical achievement for which AIOTA has been working with dedication since last about three decades.
Occupational Therapy explained in the Bill is as under:
Occupational Therapy Professional
Note: Occupational Therapy Professional is a
person who delivers client-centred services
concerned with promoting health and well-being
through occupation to enable people to
participate in the activities of everyday life,
which includes professionals such as
Occupational Therapists who achieve this
outcome by working with people and
communities to enhance their ability to engage
in the occupations they are expected to do, or
by modifying the occupation or the environment
to better support their occupational engagement.
The Occupational Therapist can practice
independently or as a part of a multi-disciplinary
team and has a minimum qualification of a
baccalaureate degree.
AIOTA in the current scenario is pleased to accept the Bill because all provisions in the Bill by the Ministry of Health are incorporated in consultation with AIOTA. However suggestions for further improvisation will be taken care of later after the enactment and constitution of the independent OT Council under the umbrella of National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill 2020.
So let's celebrate this occasion of great significance for OT & AIOTA in India.
I congratulate the members of AIOTA and Members of AIOTA EC for this meticulous achievement.
I emphatically thank all those who have worked hard specifically Dr. Neeraj Mishra , Dr. R . K. Sharma, Dr. Jyothika Bijlani, Dr. Satish Maslekar and Dr. Lalit Narayan for working with dedication under the guidance of President AIOTA.
Lastly I am grateful to members of AIOTA EC and the members of AIOTA for bestowing faith and confidence on me which always has been a motivating force in working with more dedication for this long awaited outcome with now a respectful professional status of occupational therapy in India which you may not find worldover.
With best wishes
Dr. Anil K. Srivastava
President - All India Occupational Therapists' Association [AI
