(From left to right) Kevilenuo Sakhrie, Rev Tsolie Chase, Dr. Kethoser Kevichusa with the A Kevichusa Citizen's Award recipient Diethono Nakhro. (Photo Courtesy: Vilone Sakhrie)
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Morung Express News
Kohima | November 30
State Commissioner for People with Disabilities (PwDs), Diethono Nakhro, one of the leading Naga citizens championing the rights for People with Disabilities (PwD) was awarded the prestigious A Kevichusa Citizenship Award (KCA) 2020 today in a private ceremony held at RCEMPA, Jotsoma. The KCA is instituted by the Kevichusa Foundation to forge and promote the idea and ideal of citizenship.
The award recognises indigenous individuals or groups of Nagaland that have consistently “championed, demonstrated, and embodied the ideal of citizenship, and unwaveringly sought the common good of the people of Nagaland or collective sections and constituencies.”
Dr Mimi Kevichusa Ezung while introducing this year’s recipient shared Nakhro’s journey of “grit and determination.” “Her struggle for the disabled started, by first teaching the abled to drop the scales that have blinded our inner vision and to see people with disabilities with newly tutored eyes,” said Dr Ezung.
She mentioned that Nakhro has been at the forefront of the Nagaland Disability Rights Movement for over a decade. Nakhro has worked actively together with other NGOs and DPOs on advocacy and awareness efforts to promote full inclusion and participation of PwDs; pushed policy changes in the Centre; engaged with young persons with disabilities and motivated them to fight for their rights; and brought the State’s attention to the lack of accessibility and inclusion.
“Her commitment has taken her to journey from being an Assistant Editor at Eastern Mirror, prior to her accident, to rejoining as Editor after her accident, to being appointed, last year, as the State Disability Commissioner. Within a short period since her appointment, her relentless campaign has sealed the 4 percent reservation for disabled people in jobs,” remarked Dr Ezung.
The award was presented by Reverend Tsolie Chase, Pastor, Khonoma Baptist Church and Dr Kevilenuo Sakhrie, retired Associate Professor, Kohima College.
In her acceptance speech, Nakhro said that there have been positive changes in recent times, pointing to increased disability awareness, initiatives taken to improve accessibility, inclusive education, a growing perceptible positive change in attitudes, and a more receptive and proactive government.
“Our community, our movement has grown and is growing stronger every day. I am proud to belong to an amazing, talented, diverse, and passionate community that’s committed to improving the lives of others,” stated Nakhro.
Nakhro however recognized that there is still a very long way to go. Having being ignored, excluded and isolated for long, citizens with disabilities in Nagaland continue to be confronted with challenges in the most basic places such as schools, hospitals, playgrounds, marketplaces, and even in churches.
“What government must do is clear, but if there is one thing I’ve learned in my engagements with people fighting for change all over the world it’s that anyone can become a difference maker,” said Nakhro.
She noted that the disability community is always in need of allies willing to work, intervene, and use their own power and privilege to improve situations for the community. She therefore thanked the Kevichusa Foundation for their ‘ally-ship’ as they carry forward the extraordinary legacy of A Kevichusa. “You have amplified the voice of the disability community with this award and for that I am especially grateful,” she said.
Nakhro concluded her speech with the following remarks, “So much of the world we live in is built on a “one-size-fits-all” approach, and there is this tacit understanding that those who do not fit in must get left behind. But what happens when we say this is unacceptable? We start to build a better world, that’s what happens! My wish is for all of us to start saying ‘this is unacceptable’!”
