Disabled by government’s apathy

Al Ngullie
July 31

DIMAPUR (MExN): “We requested Tri-cycles from the government and they gave us three cycles! They are so apathetic towards the disabled that they don’t even care enough to know we were asking for Tri-cycles not three cycles!” lamented N. Khehovi Kiho, General Secretary of the Dimapur District Physically Handicapped Union (DDPHU). The DDPHU will be issuing Tri-cycles to handicapped people who are registered under the union. The Tri-cycles, bought by the union itself, would be given on first come first basis.

Kiho said that there were presently 300 members, with different natures of disability, registered under the union but are facing immense difficulties. “It’s been years since DDPHU was formed but nobody, including the government, has shown any interest in our plight.

The General Secretary, himself an amputee, disclosed that the Tri-cycles were bought by the union with whatever meager fund they had raised the last few years. “The Government keep promising us beautiful promises and when we approach them with projects to alleviate the suffering of disabled people like us, they don’t care” he lamented. He said that the union keeps approaching the Social Security Department for help but was constantly refused of any grants. “So what is their use?” he questioned. He also said that the members being handicapped, funds could not be raised even to build a one-room office. 

The Tri-cycles are presently housed in an abandoned, half-constructed building at LRC colony, Dimapur. The DDPHU don’t have an office, no office stationeries and according to Kiho “no more projects because we know the government would naturally reject them.” He was pessimistic on whether the suffering of the disabled people would be alleviated considering the attitude of the government and to some extent, ‘the people too’. “Limbless Nagas don’t beg on the streets, they die of hunger in their rooms” he sighed.