Morung Express News
Dimapur | November 28
According to 2001 census, there are more than 26,000 people living with disability in Nagaland. With the exception of a few disabled people who are actively employed and involved in society, most of them live in ignorance and exclusion through inaccessible transport, accommodation, schooling, employment, public facilities, and indifferent attitudes of the “non-disabled” population.
In order to sensitise the issue of disability in Nagaland, a state-level workshop on disability and law was organised by Prodigals Home, Dimapur, in association with Disability Law Unit North-East, ‘Shishu Saruthi’, at Tourist Lodge, Dimapur today. The seminar, while focusing on the role of government and citizens to address the issue of disability, also accepted the ignorance about the help and support that could be given to disabled children to make them grow up as productive and happy individuals in spite of their impairments.
The thought about how the disabled are viewed as burdens, problems, useless objects and shame to the family, were viewed, while the whole issue of sensitisation, the organisers felt, arises because of the community/society’s indifferent and insensitive attitude most of the time to the disabled. Also, there is no form of support for the needs, problems and rights of the disabled people.
Resource person Leonard Aier, Principal of Dimapur City Law College, gave an overview of disability legislations in India and the legal provision under the Indian Constitution for people with disability. He also dwelt on the problem of disability as a problem confronting society, concerns in the field of employment and facilities available for disabled people. Aier said disability should now be looked at as a human rights issue, generally focusing on the basic right denied to such people despite provisions.
Short award winning films on disabled people were also shown to raise awareness and bring to light the changes people can bring about by support and sensitivity towards the disabled people. The seminar also dwelt on Acts and objectives of the Acts in protecting the rights of disabled people. The lack of political will also prompted the discussion on the roles and responsibilities of the government.
The state-level seminar is desired to bring suitable changes in the lives of the disabled people through creation of enabling environment with proper support of citizens and governments and non-government agencies working for the betterment of the society.
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