Every year 3rd December is observed as World Disability Day. As we all (Disabled, parents/families of disabled children, NGOs, SSA IED, Vodafone, World Vision, District Administration, Church Youth, Media, individual well wishers and others) marched together in commemoration of World Disability Day themed “Together for a Better World tomorrow”, it was an achievement in itself. The roads of Dimapur (from Christian Higher Secondary School to Town hall) which many disabled people/children have never walked upon before witnessed hundreds of them marching along with the rest of the rally participants in dignity and in confidence. I thought ‘I wish this was seen everyday. I mean not the rally, but the disabled people walking freely, in their daily normal routines of life in a barrier free town wherever they need to go without any human or infrastructural barrier’. The roads, the streets, the market places, the hospitals, the schools, the colleges, the banks, the Govt offices, the churches, public transport etc, all these places are not meant only for the so called ‘ abled’ but for the ‘ disabled’ too, but how often we forget this ! Disabled people are not generally seen much outside of their homes/ localities not because they don’t like to go out, live normal lives but because of human and infrastructural barriers which made their lives more disabling than their disability!
‘Why are people forced to go out on the streets demanding for what is rightfully theirs? Why do people have to be forced to ask for their own entitlements? Why do the ‘abled people’- ‘people in power and position’ wait till the disabled, out of desperation take drastic measures to demand for their rights/their entitlements? Abled people ‘in power and position’ are duty bound to do many great things for those who look up to them for help and support, for those who also have every right to be given what is rightfully theirs. Money is being sanctioned/made available to make infrastructures available, schemes and facilities, information, intervention, rehabilitations etc available. But why so much deprivation? Why people always have to be denied of what is rightfully theirs? The disabled people are not asking for something which is not theirs, they are not asking for some favors. Neither are they asking to walk the extra mile, they are simply asking them to ‘walk the talk’ for which they have been ‘elected/appointed/selected’. If ‘abled people in position’ do their ‘entrusted noble duty’ for which they have been ‘fortunate/privileged to be entrusted with’, the world will indeed be a better place for all.
The roads, streets, will be more disabled friendly. The blind can walk with their white walking stick like in other cities. The disabled people can comfortably move around like any others, go to market, and go to offices, schools, colleges, universities, churches, community programs etc. They will not be confined to the four walls of their rooms/houses anymore. The hospitals will be more accommodative and be of more help and service to disabled in need of various facilities. The poor mother from the outskirts of the town who has to carry her disabled child on her back and stand in the general queue for hours need not have to do that anymore. The schools will be a fountain of blessing to all children irrespective of any types of disability, where a disabled child can come to school like any other child and be taught and guided by qualified and trained and sensitive teachers. Job is assured as per the capacity/skill of each individual. Disability Pensions will be available to all the deserving. Scholarships to needy disabled children. BPL cards to disabled families. Travel concessions available. Concessions for medical treatment available as per the need. Needed medical facilities available. Good quality aids and appliances available. Certificates issued in the most disabled friendly system. Vocational trainings imparted suited to the needs and capabilities of the disabled. MREGA cards to disabled. Education and awareness to parents and the community in general etc .
What is needed to make a ‘better world’ is not an impossible task but an achievable task. It is only the will, concern and senses of responsibility and duty that has/can make them materialize. In Dimapur and Kohima through concerted efforts of NGOs/Govt deptts/others, changes are coming about in the lives of disabled children/ people. But this is still limited to few hundreds in the towns. Till every single disabled person in all the 11 districts of Nagaland enjoys his/her rights and privileges and be a part of the progressive state of Nagaland, we have to continue to strive together for that ‘better world for all’. I believe we can all begin to understand the challenges and struggles faced by disabled people in their daily lives, acknowledge the vast wealth of resource and potential gifted in each precious individual, and work together, and make it possible for a better world. They are not asking for the moon but simply a better world for all of us to live in together today and tomorrow.
(K. Ela, Director Prodigals’ Home)
‘Why are people forced to go out on the streets demanding for what is rightfully theirs? Why do people have to be forced to ask for their own entitlements? Why do the ‘abled people’- ‘people in power and position’ wait till the disabled, out of desperation take drastic measures to demand for their rights/their entitlements? Abled people ‘in power and position’ are duty bound to do many great things for those who look up to them for help and support, for those who also have every right to be given what is rightfully theirs. Money is being sanctioned/made available to make infrastructures available, schemes and facilities, information, intervention, rehabilitations etc available. But why so much deprivation? Why people always have to be denied of what is rightfully theirs? The disabled people are not asking for something which is not theirs, they are not asking for some favors. Neither are they asking to walk the extra mile, they are simply asking them to ‘walk the talk’ for which they have been ‘elected/appointed/selected’. If ‘abled people in position’ do their ‘entrusted noble duty’ for which they have been ‘fortunate/privileged to be entrusted with’, the world will indeed be a better place for all.
The roads, streets, will be more disabled friendly. The blind can walk with their white walking stick like in other cities. The disabled people can comfortably move around like any others, go to market, and go to offices, schools, colleges, universities, churches, community programs etc. They will not be confined to the four walls of their rooms/houses anymore. The hospitals will be more accommodative and be of more help and service to disabled in need of various facilities. The poor mother from the outskirts of the town who has to carry her disabled child on her back and stand in the general queue for hours need not have to do that anymore. The schools will be a fountain of blessing to all children irrespective of any types of disability, where a disabled child can come to school like any other child and be taught and guided by qualified and trained and sensitive teachers. Job is assured as per the capacity/skill of each individual. Disability Pensions will be available to all the deserving. Scholarships to needy disabled children. BPL cards to disabled families. Travel concessions available. Concessions for medical treatment available as per the need. Needed medical facilities available. Good quality aids and appliances available. Certificates issued in the most disabled friendly system. Vocational trainings imparted suited to the needs and capabilities of the disabled. MREGA cards to disabled. Education and awareness to parents and the community in general etc .
What is needed to make a ‘better world’ is not an impossible task but an achievable task. It is only the will, concern and senses of responsibility and duty that has/can make them materialize. In Dimapur and Kohima through concerted efforts of NGOs/Govt deptts/others, changes are coming about in the lives of disabled children/ people. But this is still limited to few hundreds in the towns. Till every single disabled person in all the 11 districts of Nagaland enjoys his/her rights and privileges and be a part of the progressive state of Nagaland, we have to continue to strive together for that ‘better world for all’. I believe we can all begin to understand the challenges and struggles faced by disabled people in their daily lives, acknowledge the vast wealth of resource and potential gifted in each precious individual, and work together, and make it possible for a better world. They are not asking for the moon but simply a better world for all of us to live in together today and tomorrow.
(K. Ela, Director Prodigals’ Home)
