State Commissioner directs govt to ensure priority and preference to PwDs
Kohima, July 8 (MExN): The Nagaland State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) has directed the State government and the health department to ensure that priority and preference is given to persons with disabilities for any public healthcare situation.
The directive was issued on July 7 while hearing a suo motu scase initiated by the Court of the State Commissioner for PwDs filed earlier on June 3 to immediately implement the office memorandum issued on April 29 by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, for priority and preference to PwDs in testing, treatment and vaccination of corona virus along with various other mandates as per Section 25 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
The respondents- the State government and the State Health department were directed to submit an Action Taken Report within 7 days of receipt of the notice.
On July 7, the Court said that it is in receipt of the affidavit filed by respondents, dated June 29, 2021 and observed that the respondents have taken the necessary steps in giving special priority for COVID-19 vaccination to and inclusion of the Unique Disability Identification Card (UDID) in the list of prescribed photo ID documents to avail the vaccination.
However, since COVID-19 pandemic is ongoing and taking into account any such eventualities in the future, the Court requested and directed the respondents that in the coming days, for any public healthcare situation/action, wide publication and awareness must be made, specifying and ensuring that priority and preference is given to persons with disabilities. “The rights and privileges of persons with disabilities should not be overlooked or denied whatsoever,” the Court stated while disposing the matter on Thursday.
