Submit Action Taken Report within 7days,says notification
Kohima, June 3 (MExN): The Court of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) has issued a notice to the State Government/State Disaster Management Authority and the State Health Department regarding the priority vaccination of PWDs.
The notice has been issued due to delayed action despite several communications from the commissioner’s office, stated a press release from the Programme Officer Office of the State Commissioner for PwDs.
The respondents have been directed to submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within 7 (seven) days of receipt of the notice, it said.
Among others, the ATR included implementation of Office Memorandum dated April 29, 2021, issued by the Department of Empowerment of PwDs, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India for priority and preference to PwDs in testing, treatment and vaccination of coronavirus.
The notice also demanded ATR on implementation of the SOP issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on COVID-19 Vaccination of persons without prescribed Identity Cards through CoWIN.
Vaccination of PwDs should be carried out in coordination with the Social Welfare Department whereby the District Welfare Officers shall act as Nodal Officers for smooth vaccination, it said.
Further, the Nodal Officers must coordinate with the District-Level Committees on Disabilities in their respective Districts and should identify those PwDs with high support needs/who are unable to leave their houses, to arrange for home vaccinations, it added.
The notice also directed for establishment of separate centre for vaccination, wherever feasible, which should cater only to PwDs in each district on priority basis.
Ensure that existing vaccination centres are made accessible for PwDs and are given priority at the vaccination centres, it said. The notice also directed to carry out regular Special Vaccination Drive/Camps for PwDs in all the Districts of the State.
As noted in the notice, PwDS are among the most vulnerable groups of people since they are at very high risk of contracting the virus and developing a severe case of the disease which may even prove fatal because of their co-morbidities, the release said.
Section 25 of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 mandates free healthcare, barrier-free access and priority in attendance and treatment to PwDs, it added.
Under Section 80 (b) of the RPwD Act 2016, the State Commissioner for Person with Disabilities is mandated to inquire suo moto or otherwise, deprivation of the rights of persons with disabilities and safeguards available to them and to monitor implementation of the Act and take up with the appropriate authorities for corrective action, the release added.
