Accessibility not an option, non-negotiable, says SCPD

KOHIMA — State Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities (SCPD) Diethono Nakhro on Thursday asserted that ‘accessibility is not an option but a fundamental human right and non-negotiable.’

The SCPD was addressing a workshop on the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) held here at the Nagaland Public Work Department (NPWD) conference hall.

Nakhro said the workshop was necessitated as a follow-up of the suo-moto issued earlier by her office in June this year to the NPWD, in respect of the department’s earlier notification in 2019, to make all government and public sectors buildings accessible to PwDs.

She lamented that non-compliance with the orders and guidelines in many offices to date, despite the inaccessibility claims, was due to a lack of awareness among the people.

Nakhro also highlighted the Rights of PwDs Act, 2016, which came into force on April 19, 2017, which provides protection to all people with disabilities against discrimination and also promotes equal opportunity and accessibility.

Pointing out that inaccessibility means isolation for persons with disabilities due to lack of accessibility, she also highlighted the challenges faced by the PwDs community in various aspects.

The SCPD also said that accessibility is critical to ensure that all citizens are included in the life of the community.

Further, she underscored that no construction of any public building or structure can be started if the plans are not fully compliant with all basic accessibility standards for PwDs.

Presentations were also made by SCPD legal consultants Khriesino Kire and Asenla Walling on ‘Harmonised Guidelines and Standards for Universal Accessibility in India 2021.’

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