Asangla Imsong
DPRO, Kohima
The Constitution of India ensures equality, freedom, justice and dignity of all individuals and implicitly mandates an inclusive society for including persons with disabilities. The National Policy on Disabled envisages the Government to ensure that persons with disabilities obtain the Disability Certificate without any difficulty in the shortest possible time by adoption of simple, transparent and client-friendly procedures. In this background, the District administration, Mayurbhanj, Orissa analysed the processes involved in the service delivery to Differently–Abled Persons (DAP) for getting a Disability Certificate to get coverage under various Governmental schemes.
The mission of this initiative – ‘Window of Hope’ is to identify all DAPs within a definite time frame, empower them with improved access to services, extend them facilities of corrective surgery, aid and appliances in a free, fair, friendly, transparent and time bound manner so as to enable them to exercise their fundamental right of living a life of freedom and dignity. The programme comprises of the following strategies:
• An annual action plan with monthly targets focusing on progressive implementation of objectives envisaged in the ‘Mission Statement’.
• Bringing all government agencies involved in providing services to the DAP under a single roof and decentralized service delivery at block headquarters.
• On the spot evaluation and provision of certificates.
• ‘Campaign mode’ for ensuring maximum coverage.
• Government process re-engineering : The procedures involved in service delivery were streamlined to suit the needs of stake holders.
• Local enquiry for issue of income certificates replaced by checking land records and cross checking with PRI members present in the camp.
• Instead of the RTO issuing the fare concession cards at the district headquarter, BDOs are empowered to issue cards at block headquarters.
• Cent percent coverage of all eligible DAPs by mobilizing and converging funds from various sources and by fostering Private-Public Partnerships.
The strategy adopted through Single Window system along with Decentralization of service delivery at block levels is a unique approach vis-à-vis an earlier vertical and compartmentalized system. Other innovative methods used include complex governmental processes re-engineered to suit the needs of stakeholders; all facilities provided free of cost in the camp site to attract the poorest of the poor; ‘Camp Mode’ ensured that there was no corruption, harassment, red tape and broke physical, geographical, financial, social and gender barriers; the funds mobilized through convergence and Public-Private partnerships so as to ensure 100% follow-up action.
In a backward tribal district like Mayurbhanj, with very poor public transport system, it was a nightmarish experience for a Differently - Abled Person to travel long distances to different offices to get required certificates. Through the ‘Window of Hope’, the District Administration could reach to hitherto unreached, provided services under a single window, at decentralized locations, in a campaign mode and re-engineered complex government process to make it stakeholder - friendly.
It also ensured 100% coverage of all the identified eligible persons within the same year and the gap in resources was met by convergence and fostering Public-Private partnerships. The State Government has decided to implement this initiative in all the districts of Orissa and the National Tryst for welfare of persons with Autism, Cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities, New Delhi published this as a best practice for replication in other States. The momentum created by this initiative by sensitizing all the sections of society for the cause of Differently-Abled Person has transformed this initiative into a movement – a Movement owned and promoted by the stakeholders.
As Helen Keller said, “Until the great mass of the people shall be filled with the sense of responsibility of each other’s welfare, social justice can never be attained.”
‘Window of Hope’ is a small but committed step in this direction.
(Source : District Administration, Mayurbhanj; Regional Conf. on Fostering Good Governance, Chumukedima)
