Kuzhovesa Soho
Kohima | October 25
With the formation of Nagaland Parents Association for the Disabled (NAPAD) in March this year, the association today made a strong appeal to the government for the creation of separate “Disabled Commissioner” as per the Disabled Act 1995.
The long desires of the affected parents in the state has not been fulfilled till date despite humanitarian approach was made to the government stated, Marlong Longkumer, President NAPAD while addressing the press conference today here at Red Cross conference hall, Kohima.
The press conference was called in regard to the proposed launching of Badhte Kadam-“Stepping forward” a national programme for disabled children to celebrate the diversity, create, inclusion, join hands with ‘National Trust’ (NT) in spreading message of hope, dignity, human rights and empowered by becoming part of Badhte Kadam-All India Discoverabilities awareness campaign 2010.
The Commissioner & secretary of Social Welfare department who is also assigned as the commissioner of disability while expressing his inability to shoulder the dual assignment, the state government gave no clues and there is no separate Disabled Commissioner till date, asserted a well wisher of the NAPAD, Dr. Ngully. He urged the government to consider the same as priority in their plans. He said the word disabled should not be used rather we should term it as impaired person or differently abled child. Disability being considered as a curse by affected parents has created obstacles in availing facilities and other opportunities, Dr. Ngully added.
As per the schedule of the NAPAD, in collaborating with the Census Directorate, Nagaland, Unlock Entertainment, Nagaland, the Badhte Kadam awareness campaign for the eight districts in Nagaland will flag off at Kohima from November 19 onwards and will culminate at Dimapur on November 26.
The awareness campaign covering the eight districts will provide opportunity to the disabled children from the districts where a ‘mela’ will be organized, opening up a platform to expose their specialty as part of motivating their skills and talents.
Moreover, the chief secretary of Nagaland, Lalthara has directed the respective Deputy Commissioners to dwell with the proposed NAPAD campaign. The campaign is expected to have a positive impact on the affected children thereby a commendable report will be submitted to the National Trust after the completion of the campaign stated Prenima a member of the NAPAD.
Stating that the disabled children were being victimized on past occasions, an affected parent and member of NAPD disclosed, ‘the job reservation of 3% to the disabled children were never implemented’ thereby instead of giving a special care for them they were being victimized beyond human limitation.
An activist for disabled persons, Dr. Joyce Angami said that creation of separate commissioner for disabled would ease the burdens of the affected parents and newly formed NAPAD in particular and the entire disabled children in general adding it would set a goal for the Millennium Development.
As per the administrator of Cherry Blossom School, Kohima, the institute for the disabled children which was started few years back was commissioned with three children in the first year, later was enhanced to 25 students adding that they are being kept under special care.
Dr. Temsu, a member of World Health Organization (WHO) in his short address said that he was working with a special assignment of polio free. He also added that polio is more or less one of the main causes of disability. He said the NAPAD under the Badhte Kadam campaign should create an atmosphere of a denial of acceptance and disabled free zone.
H. Hesso vice chairman IRC, and president, Senior Citizen Forum Nagaland, Zakie, general secretary IRC, were among others who spoke during the press conference.
The NAPAD further revealed that the campaign will be as per the national booklet on Badhte Kadam and has been confirmed with the IPR department to be translated in 16 Naga tribal dialects which would be used during the campaign.
Meanwhile, the grand finale of the campaign will be held at Dimapur on November 26, which will feature charitable concert to be staged by renowned local singer –Methaneilie. He will be singing on the theme of Badhte Kadam in Nagamese as part of promoting the nation wide campaign, Methaneilie will also sing on the day of campaign flag off on November 19.
The NAPAD while making a humble request to the citizens of the state to cooperate with the campaign, further stated that the disabled problems was/is never a family problem rather it’s a universal problem where every individual should contribute in the process of making a world free from disability.
