Sub: Representation cum inquiry on Disability related State Govt’s Legislations
I, the undersigned, physically challenged person on behalf of the educated disabled youths venture to put this representation to your esteemed authority on the pathetic attitude of the State Government towards the disabled community and further as the sole authority for redressal of our grievances, I solicit your kind attention and necessary action thereof.
That Sir, conspicuously it is under your esteem knowledge that time after time and year after year, we the disables have been voicing our reservations on the sincerity of the State Govt. in implementing various Disability related Acts and Central Government directives. In this regard, permit me to point out some of the loop-sided attitude of the State Govt.
1. As per the 9th April, 2004 issue of all the leading dailies, ‘the State Government has declared all Deputy Commissioners as Additional Deputy Commissioners, Disabled Cell for implementation of the Persons with Disability (Equal Opportunity, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 with immediate effect’. This so called ‘Official Notification for immediate effect’ is yet to be notified officially to the concerned Deputy Commissioners, which indeed is astonishing.
2. Again as per the 28th August, 2004 issue of all the local dailies, it was learnt that ‘The State Govt. reserves 5% vacancies for disabled persons with immediate effect’ meant for direct recruitment in the Govt of Nagaland and its Public Undertakings’ of the 5%, one per cent each will be reserved for: blindness or low vision; hearing impairment and; locomotor disability or cerebral palsy’. Again, this Notification/Legislation seems to have trickled down to nothing vis-à-vis its implementation.
3. Towards the implementation of this 5% reservations, ‘in August 2004, the State Govt. had appointed an Expert Committee under the Chief Secretary to identify post for disabled persons’. The findings of this Committee be whatever, never came to light. It wouldn’t be a surprise, if it too had trickled down to nothing like the rest of the ‘committed’, ‘serious’, ‘for immediate effect’ disability related legislations of the present state government. Be it what, its been 36th year since the Prime Minister’s directives (No.197 P.M.O-80 dated 14/06/1980) to the Chief Minister Nagaland ‘to identify post for disabled persons under the State Govt. Undertakings’. Further, given the state government disinterest in the implementation of this that Disability Acts or Central Govt. directives, it was in 2004 that the Centre had intimidated the identification of various posts for disabled persons under the State Governments Undertakings to the ‘Commissioner, Disabled Cell, Nagaland’. Then, why ‘non-identification of post?’
4. Was 2005 a year of Youth Empowerment? Under this theme the state govt initiated various schemes for the youths and hence it is said thousands of Naga youths were benefited. If true, why was not even a single scheme earmarked for the disabled to mark the Year and its Theme?
Sir, its time to ponder on what went wrong with those numerous ‘committed’ steps undertaken by the present state government towards the integration of the disabled from their social stigma. Is it the failure of the present state government to initiate even a single disability related seminar to sensitize the masses or is it because of the failure of the present state government to consult or include the disabled or their parents in those disability related Commissions?
Sir, we have noticed many change of guard in the state’s political scene, but each of them had played down the issue of disability. The theory that disabled constituted no appreciable vote bank made the political parties or the individual legislatures to adopt half-hearted attitude towards the disabled persons. Hence, the State has not and did not bother to look into the matter seriously, opting to remain silent even after repeated reminders in person and through the print-media. It is said ‘systems makes or breaks a person’, we are being victimized because of the faulty systems, regulations and short-sightedness of those politicians. To achieve their political objectives, our life for them is secondary and expendable. Can any society treat a path of progress after leaving behind a part of their population?
Sir, as part of a process of ‘equal opportunity’ provision where ever necessary should be made to assist the disabled persons to enable us to assume our full responsibility as a productive and dignified citizen. In fact, disability emerges as handicap for any individual, if he/she is prevented from participating in normal activities and when his/her inherited talents, abilities, wisdoms and knowledge are not recognized or when his/her potentials are underestimated.
Sir, there should be ‘nothing about us without us’, the disabled should be given a fair chance ‘to have a say’ in matters pertaining to us, since it directly deals with the affairs of our life. I put down this representation hoping that your esteemed authority would initiate pre-emptive measures to mend the loopholes.
K. Khiungtsukiu
Disabled Activist
