Dimapur, September 21 (MExN): The Nagaland Parents Association for the Disabled (NAPAD) in a representation to the Vice President of India has highlighted the problems faced by the ‘Person with Disability’ (PWD) of Nagaland.
As per the latest census report, there are 26499 PWD’s in Nagaland- 23520 in rural area and 2979 in urban area. However, the disability management in the state of Nagaland is yet to gain momentum in all directions and there is a much felt need for the State Government to initiate certain structural and convergent approach to draw up an integrated plan for the management of the disability sector which covers around 3% of the population. The representation signed by Marlong Longkumer, President of NAPAD and Purnima Kayina, Coordinator of NAPAD alleged that till date, no initiative has been made by the State Government for the management of the PWD’s and the rights granted to them under the Constitution of India and the various legislations of Parliament has not been practically implemented.
Only in recent years, the State Government of Nagaland has started reserving some quota in employment for PWD’s but because of lack of proper education, the PWD’s are not being able to avail even this small opportunity provided by the Government. On the educational side, only a few private institutions, mostly confined to towns, have began to offer educational facilities to the PWD’s, but even this institutions, owing to financial constraints, cannot provide standard facilities, and despite their attempts to get financial assistance from the State under the different schemes, they are not granted any financial assistances by the State. In this connection, special mention is made about the Cherry Blossoms School, Kohima, which is doing pioneering work and yeoman service for the PWDs. It is the only school in the state which has adopted the ‘Inclusive’ approach in its curriculum following the RTE concept. The School is one deserving special aid from the State.
Thus, considering the plight of the PWD’s, the parents of the PWD’s have formed the “Nagaland Parents Association for the Disabled” (NAPAD) on March 14, 2010 with the objective of up-lifting the welfare and all-round development of PWD’s in the State. The NAPAD was formed through the initiative of the Cherry Blossom Society and the MAPAD (Meghalaya Parents Association of Disabled, Shillong) and organized by PARIVAR the National Federations of Parents’ Association, NESCCOD.
Meanwhile, the Association also added that NAPAD is very keen in spreading awareness in and around the state and giving encouragement and advice on how to help the PWD’s and raise their standard of life. Home visits and sharing testimony are the main ingredients of the association as many people are still isolating/confining their children in their homes. These children are not exposed; therefore, when in contact with strangers, they tend to shy away. The State Government with its appropriate planning and finance machineries need to rise to the cause of the management of the disability and draw up effective planning with tangible finance support to cover the following major domains as below: Education, Employment, Community and Livelihood.
Therefore, NAPAD pleas to the Vice President to look upon the problems of the PWD’s of Nagaland benevolently and be pleased to take up the matter with the Government of India and the Government of Nagaland to ensure that the rights granted to the PWDs under the Constitution of India and the different legislations are implemented in full, revive the post of Disability Commissioner at the earliest and also set up special institutions for the PWD’s with quality teachers and standard equipments in all the districts of the State.
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