Govt creates awareness on metal disability

Experts from the National Institute of Mentally Handicapped (NIMH), Secundrabad, Andhra Pradesh. (Morung photo)
 
Dimapur, February 23 (MExN): Making efforts to create awareness on mental disability in Nagaland, a team of experts from the National Institute of Mentally Handicapped (NIMH) under the Ministry of Social Justice is in Dimapur conducting workshops among stakeholders.  Since February 21, the team headed by a Psychiatrist, Dr. Om Sai Ramesh has been visiting schools and colleges creating awareness on the mental disability. The team has so far visited Patkai Christian College, Delhi Public School and Holy Cross School. They will further be holding interactive sessions with policy makers, state government officials, NGOs and community stakeholders. The Ministry of Social Justice has sent a team of experts to all the eight northeast states with an aim to disseminate awareness on mental disability and conduct outreach programmes.
In an interaction with the media today, Principal NIMH, Ganesh said that Ministry has organised this programme owing to the ignorance about mental disability among people. He said that different rehabilitation programmes for the mentally disabled in the country is not functioning as per the expectations of the Government of India. Taking these factors into account, Ganesh said that the teams are reaching out to cross section of society.  He said that according to unofficial figures, there are atleast 32 lakh mentally disabled persons in the country, but some independent research figures have also projected about 1 crore people. Despite these astounding figures, various Acts and schemes are not being fully implemented, which is the reason why awareness is of prime importance, he said.  
The NIMH team, which is confining only to Dimapur district during its maiden visit, has been creating awareness and educating students about people with disabilities. On a wider platform, NIMH will discuss the various schemes and Acts for the disabled with policy makers, government officials and NGOs. A workshop for Angawadi workers will be held tomorrow and a discussion on 3% reservation for people with disability in all government jobs the following day. NIMH team will also be visiting Medziphema to conduct and awareness programme for the community.
NIMH is an institute based in Secundrabad, Andhra Pradesh. It offers long-term programmes recognised by Rehabilitation Council of India and is affiliated to different universities. It has a team of highly qualified faculty and specialists of various disciplines who are engaged in human resource development activities and research and development programmes.