Activist Diethono advocates disabled-friendly Nagaland

Staff Reporter
Dimapur, Sep. 6 (EMN): Society decides for people with disabilities and makes their own judgement on what persons with disability cannot do and not what they can do. When the society looks at disability with prejudiced mindset, there will be no room for accessibility in the State. This concern was shared by disability rights activist and former Editor of Eastern Mirror Diethono Nakhro at the ‘Disability awareness campaign’ held at Eastern Christian College (ECC), Dimapur, on Wednesday.
There is a negative attitude towards people with disabilities in the society as people empathised only for a certain period of time overlooking their long term struggle, expressed Nakhro.
Recounting her battle as a patient fastened in a wheel chair after her tragic accident, Nakhro shared, ‘I was not born with disability and struggling to accept my situation. I made up my mind to fight my situation.’ In line with her situation, she heartened the students to advocate among people with disabilities not to let their situation and society’s approach to hold them back.
Lamenting over the apathy approach of State government towards people with disabilities, Nakhro pointed out that even the Nagaland Secretariat office- which is supposed to an important administrative centre setting examples for other department offices, has no accessibility for people with disability.
“Even churches in the State are not aware that people with disability has the need to access church,” pointed out Nakhro. However, she said Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) is working on providing convenience for this section.
“Differently-abled sections are left out in the society and this is because of ignorance and lack of understanding leaving this section in isolation and giving more room for people with disabilities to continue living with the negative mindset, barriers and indifference,” articulated the activist.
It is time for the situation to change so that people with disability are treated as normal people, voiced Nakhro adding the laws intended for people with disabilities in the State should implemented to enable them live equally.
“Public spaces need to be considerately planned with provision of compatible toilets with grab bars, wheelchair facilities, signage, and installation of ramps to name a few and to execute these provisions; the state government has a big responsibility to enact while the young people have the challenge to bring change in the society through their awareness,’ said Nakhro.