Morung Express News
Kohima | May 3
With the developing issues of differently-abled still in the nascent stage in Naga society, Rajesh Soudararajan, Kohima, Deputy Commissioner asserted that the issue requires rights based approach and not just a benevolent or sympathetic approach.
The Kohima DC addressed this concern during the aids and appliances distribution camp on May 3 at Hotel Japfü organised by the National Insurance Company Limited (NICL), and Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation Kanpur (ALIMCO) in collaboration with District Disability Rehabilitation Center (DDRC), District Hospital Dimapur.
Aids and appliances such as Braille kit, CP Chairs, MSIED kit, Braille smart phones, hearing aids, mobility aids were distributed to 47 beneficiaries including school students.
“We always look at things with a benevolence approach which is not right because what is required is not benevolence but a rights based approach to do things in a more systematic way,” said Soudararajan. To develop this approach, all concerned citizens have to differentiate between sympathy and empathy, according to the DC. “It is very easy to have sympathy. Empathy is when you put yourself in someone else’s shoes and initiate things based on their needs and requirements,” stated Soudararajan advocating for an empathetic system which can enable the differently abled to be more self- reliant where they can help themselves without any support.
The need to make tremendous improvements was highlighted where public buildings, amenities and utilities have to be disabled friendly. “Our endeavor should be to create a foolproof infrastructure for our differently abled. The journey that we embark upon should be towards that and not some piecemeal approach or some things here and there. The collective endeavour of all us should be to put such a system in place where our differently abled do not need any support but rather become self-reliant,” affirmed Soudararajan. With technology playing a vital role, the necessity to leverage on available technology was also emphasized.
In his keynote address, Dr. Imlitemsu Ozukum, MD i/c DDRC, District Hospital stated that DDRC is the only state owned centre for medical rehab of People with Disabilities. After a long gap of nonfunctional status, the centre was revived in 2016. It has treated around 3156 patients besides organizing health camps, assessment and distribution camps, and trainings. The Centre has also opened the first disability library.
Dr. Ozukum also informed that the NICL has provided funds for distribution through ALIMCO. “We are able to do lots of things but we require two very important professionals, one being a prosthetist. There are so many patients because of trauma and other ailing conditions where they undergo amputation and they are waiting in line to be fitted a prosthetic. Still we do not have a prosthetist. Secondly, we need an occupational therapist which is important for the treatment of cerebral palsy and various other neurological conditions. I hope the government will hear our pleas. This is not the plea of the DDRC but the plea of all the differently abled people,” stated Dr. Ozukum.
Rajesh Kumar Das from ALIMCO informed that under the Corporate Social Responsibility of NICL, 200 aids and appliances have been distributed in Dimapur and 47 in Kohima worth Rs 50 lakhs. ALIMCO is also the only corporation in India owned by the government catering towards the differently abled population. With its mission to restore the dignity of the PWDs, ALIMCO aims to become the largest manufacturer and supplier of assistive devices at affordable costs for PWDs in India and abroad.
With a major concern towards the economic, social and environmental impact, the NICL official stated that the company’s CSR activities are extended towards these three aspects, where 2 percent of its net profits preceding in 3 years are contributed towards it CSR activities all over India. With the distribution of the aids and devices for the differently abled in Nagaland, the NICL hoped that the company’s initiative towards uplifting society will be fruitful and that it will benefit the differently abled to have a better life.
