Participants and officials during the launching of Enable India’s the ‘Hamari Vaani’ support platform for Persons with Disabilities in Dimapur on March 5.
IVR platform specially designed for connecting PWDs and stakeholders
Morung Express News
Dimapur | March 5
Enable India’s the ‘Hamari Vaani’ support platform for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) has now reached Nagaland. The platform was launched by the State Commissioner for Disabilities, Nagaland, Diethono Nakhro on March 5 at a programme organised by the Prodigal’s Home.
Vaani is an Interactive Voice Response social media platform specially developed for PWDs in rural areas and their stakeholders, accessible through any mobile phone without internet. It is successfully operating in Karnataka and other states since 2017.
Shijo Joseph, Regional Director EnAble India, told at the launch that persons with disability, NGOs, companies, parents and other enablers can use the platform to listen to and share information regarding opportunities, employment, education, schemes and facilities for PWDs.
According to Joseph, it is designed to bring PWDs and the wider community together by enabling access to information and training from experts. Any person with a mobile phone, including keypad phones, can use the platform by dialing 9266344222 and following step-by-step instructions for sharing issues, solutions, information, while connecting with the wider PWDs community, the people in general, NGOs, government agencies and even potential employers.
While parents can reach out to the community, the government can get acquainted with the needs of the PWDs, get data and analytics that would aid in policy decisions. With over 3.5 lakh audio uploads, 8 million calls and 1 lakh callers, the platform can disseminate information about educational opportunities for the PWDs run by universities. Joseph said that the universities can get case study and engaging with other like-minded institutions, while also sharing/disseminating information about programmes, courses and events being run.
It is currently inaccessible for the hearing impaired but he said that it is a challenge that EnAble India is aiming to bridge.
EnAble is one of the founding members of disability NGOs Alliance, the largest collective platform in India to represent the 140+ disability sector NGOs.
The State Commissioner for Disabilities, Diethono Nakhro, highlighted how disabled people often face barrier preventing from accessing not only facilities and opportunities but also information. There are various schemes which can benefit the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) but she said that the people who need it the most are not getting the information.
Terming the facilities for the PWDs in general “as still very poor” in India, she said stressed on “reaching the right information to the right people.” Citing the initiative as a good example of “what we can achieve when we all come together towards breaking down barriers, she termed Vaani a lifeline— a solution to ensure the PWDs do not miss out on services and opportunities.
“Sometimes the work that we do is very challenging but the work you and groups like you are doing is impacting and making a difference in so many PWDs.
As far as Nagaland was concerned, she said that the state has made progress over the past 5-6 years. She however added that the state still has a long way to go and that change occurs only when there is genuine “feeling” for the needs of others.
Social inclusion is mandated by law but she reminded that it actually demands a moral obligation. According to her, it is not only the government but a moral obligation of “All of us have.”
