Meet Calls for raising awareness about differently-abled persons

KOHIMA: A three-day 'Sensitization and Awareness' campaign on 'Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwDs) Act-2016' for State government officials called for a massive awareness drive among the masses as well as among the persons with disabilities (PwDs) across the State. The campaign was officially launched by Chief Secretary Nagaland, Temjen Toy at the Nagaland Civil Secretariat conference hall on September 19. The programme was organized by the Mission Mode Team, Accessible India Campaign, in collaboration with the Office of State Commissioner for PwDs, with a view to sensitize and create awareness on Rights of PwDs.

"The Nagas are aware of our rights only when it concerns us but are least bothered about others' rights," remarked Temjen Toy at the launching campaign. He said that only when we start visualizing and putting ourselves in the shoes of the disabled then only the campaign will bear results.

He pointed out that the differently-abled have rights and we need to appreciate and respect their rights. Despite the various notifications issued by the Social Welfare Department to various departments on addressing the issue on accessibility of public buildings and office buildings, Toy remarked that the response is still very poor. Toy added that the team was formed to monitor the activities taken by various departments in the Directorate, districts and public buildings.

He also stated that, henceforth, all office memorandums and notifications must be updated in the web as per the accessibility guidelines. He further said that all public government buildings in the State should be made accessible to PwDs and also to create a barrier-free environment.

Toy expressed the hope that with the launching of this campaign, all departments will be adequately sensitized to address the needs of accessibility with respect to PwDs.

State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Diethono Nakhro, in her PowerPoint presentation, gave an overview of PwDs, the status of implementation of various laws, and the way forward, where she highlighted that persons with benchmark disability are those who have been certified by the appropriate certifying authority with 40% or more.

Highlighting the overview of the Act, she said that there are 21 specified disabilities under the RPWD Act-2016; and it contains 17 chapters and 102 sections and under the Act, adding that all educational institutions funded or recognized by the Government should provide inclusive education to children with disabilities from their age of six to 18 years.

The Government is required to take steps for development of skills and employment, such as providing loans, training, and marketing of products; initiate measures to provide accessibility in the physical environment, transportation, information and communication including technologies and systems in both the urban and rural areas; besides designating special courts in each district to handle cases concerning violation of rights of PwDs.

Dwelling on the status of implementation of various provision of the Act in Nagaland, Diethono said that it is zero, adding that there is no current data on disability. She expressed concern that Nagaland has a very poor track record of implementing the disability laws; and Nagaland is the only State in the entire country that does not have even a single proper disability rehabilitation facility resource centre.

She also emphasized on various issues, where public buildings and public spaces are yet to be made accessible and another big issue is the lack of budgeting whereby there is perpetual shortage of funds for disability affairs. She further stated that the inclusion and accessibility is not just about laws and the rule book, it is also about the desire to do the right thing and then reaching out and putting that little extra effort to make sure that no citizen is left out of life.

Director, Prodigal's Home, Dimapur, K. Ela spoke on the disability scenario in Nagaland and highlighted the challenges and opportunities. She said, "We will have to sensitize our people to be more responsive to the needs and requirements of the disabled." She emphasized on the need to create awareness about the PwDs among the masses and to also fight ignorance on issues faced by the disabled in the State. She also stressed on the necessity for an update in the data, research and studies of persons with disability and the urgent need for RCI (Rehabilitation Council of India) training centers in the State.

"It is a vicious cycle of ignorance, indifference, misconceptions, wrong attitude, poor commitment, lack of concern and lack of seriousness about the issue," she said while referring to the issues of problems and challenges faced by the disabled persons in the State.

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