Don’t DIS my ABILITY Disabled still unreached in Peren
With a concrete 50 points article preamble drafted for persons with disabilities, the Eighth drafting convention on the rights of persons with disabilities by International Convention was a stirring one for millions around the world.
Promoted by the United Nations as an International Observance for people with disabilities since 1992, December 3 has always been a day with much hope and optimism for the disabled. Typically, the Day’s focused activities are mounted by volunteers, humanitarians, charitable societies and Trusts.
It is heartening that Nagaland, a state in the North-east of India has also joined the whole world to observe the day— growing in a larger scale of involvement and contribution each year. The coordination between different societies, departments and individuals on the occasion deserves praise from one and all. But the battle goes on.
Despite the fact that humans have observed the World Disability Day for the past 18 years, disabled children here in remote rural regions of North-East India still face social neglect and discrimination thus struggling their lives without a voice, dignity, well-being and right to equal educational and job opportunities and other basic amenities for equally 18 years!
That humanitarians and governments across the globe have been on their toes and on a war-footing scale to help eradicate this stigma is no qualm; but that they endure the pain of a losing battle is also a fact— the several contributing factors of which, ‘neglect’ by concerned departments seemingly the main reason.
Driven by a quest to identify with these real-life heroes and to highlight if their needs were met, a survey was made in Peren district early February 2011.
It would be a prejudice on the part of a journalist to conceal the fact that concerned officials instituted for the welfare of these children simply have not been in attendance from their posting place and nothing substantial have been undertaken to assess the problems of these people, except in some rare cases of political leaders intervening to endow with scheme such as ADIP for some families.
While other districts in Nagaland have awakened to the plight of the disabled in a more coordinated system, it is pitiable that some of their peers in Peren district go on their lives content in their old wooden easy-chairs. Disabled children with innate potentials and capabilities to excel as technicians and in electronics were also identified. “I have sought assistance from the Directorate years back and there was even a time when the Church was entrusted to survey their conditions. They did came and took my son’s profile but it is now almost 10 years I have heard nothing of it,” lamented a father in Jalukie whose 16 year old jovial son was crippled by cerebral palsy. It looks like many parents and relatives have initially tried to seek help but could not either meet the concerned person to submit their applications or did not know even their office existence and the procedure.
Despite the fact that there are number of special schemes, opportunities and awards for the disabled; and that India has around 90 special schools / Vocational Training Centers assisted under Central Grant-in-Aid, not much of an effort has been given to ensure dignified livelihood for the disabled in this part of the country.
Introduction of a systematic state/district database of disabled and giving of more awareness and guidelines by concerned departments may surely open up windows of avenues for the state to act without much constrain. While they may not have been exposed to many experiences in life, their will and hope as a human is strong and their soul pure. Cheerful as they are their only plea remains the same: Don’t DIS my ABILITY.
By Athui Zeliang
morungexpress.com
