Participants during the first conference of the State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities of the Northeast region at Noune Resort, Chümoukedima on May 3. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Chümoukedima | May 23
Nagaland hosted the first ever conference of the State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities of the Northeast region on May 23, held at Noune Resort, Chümoukedima. The main objective of this was to take stock of the implementation status of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 in the region.
The conference had been organised by the Office of the Nagaland State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Department of Social Welfare. Representatives from participating states included from Meghalaya, Sikkim, Tripura, Assam and hosts, Nagaland.
During the inaugural session, Advisor for Department of Social Welfare, Wangpang Konyak noted that the event will work towards addressing gaps in the implementation of RPwD, create awareness of the law and rights among stake holders.
For Nagaland, he mentioned that the government has so far notified on the Nagaland Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules in 2020 and adopted the RPWD Act in 2018 in the State. “We have appointed an independent State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) with the office fully functional,” he said. The State Advisory Board has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister and regular meetings are being held. Moreover, a 4% reservation of posts in government jobs has been notified and is being strictly implemented in all recruitment exercises, the Advisor added.
In regard to ensuring accessibility in public buildings and spaces, public transportation and communication systems, various steps are being taken to sensitize and train the concerned authorities in these sectors. Inclusive Education, skill development, sports, rehabilitations and healthcare services are also major areas of concern for us, Konyak stated. Nevertheless, he said that a lot of work needs to be done, we are making steady progress, and this has been largely due to the strong role played by the Disability Commissioner's office.
Diethono Nakhro, State Commissioner for PwDs in her keynote address meanwhile said that as Commissioners they carry a profound responsibility to ensure every individual, regardless of ability enjoys the full spectrum of rights and opportunities afforded to all members of the society.
“Our work is not only a matter of policy but a moral imperative, commitment to justice, equity and human dignity,” she noted. As such, “I am optimistic that this conference will facilitate better cooperation and work towards a more equitable, just society,” the Commissioner said.
According to the department officials, among the discussions to be held during the conference include exchange of Information and Best Practices; Addressing Regional Challenges in relation to their geographical location, diverse demographics and socio-economic factors; Collaboration and coordination among the State Commissioners to enable them to work towards a common goal of ensuring the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities; Policy Development and Advocacy to identify policy gaps, areas of improvement, and needed amendments in the implementation of the Act through their experiences and knowledge; Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities through the act and discussing strategies to overcome barriers and enhance inclusivity.
