‘Hornbill festival not inclusive,’ says Disability commissioner

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Dec. 7 (EMN): Nagaland StateCommissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Diethono Nakhro, on Saturday questioned why many events and activities at the ongoing Hornbill Festival were not ‘inclusive.’

Speaking during an open art competition for persons with disabilities in Kohima, the commissioner queried. ‘Why are we not making all these events,
hundreds of events of Hornbill Festival,
inclusive.’ The competition was organised by a group called Tribal Vision.
Over 400 events and activities are taking place at the Hornbill Festival this
year for all age groups, including various competitions for youngsters and school
students. But, “Why are our children— disabled and non-disabled—still not able
to compete and have fun side by side?” she queried.

“This is because our society is still a very exclusive society. Disability is still seen as something that has to be kept apart and separate—it is still seen as something that cannot be included in regular activities,” Nakhro pointed out.

She called out the authorities and the organisers for various activities “for continuing to propagate this mindset of exclusivity.”

“As long as we continue dismissing inclusion as too difficult or too expensive to do, we continue to dismiss the disability community as third class citizens not worth including and we continue to leave behind our children with disabilities,”
she said. The commissioner appealed to the people to put the concept of inclusion
into practice.

In the competition, Amenuo Khoubve was declared the winner. The
second and third position was bagged by Nokmachier L Jamie, and Suveinai Sevaroleko, in that order. Three consolation prizes were given to Gwachilo Seb, Wikimkamliu Newmai and Kelhouletuonuo Dzuvichu.

The chairman of the Tribal Vision, Surhuveyi Tetseo, said the purpose of the competition was to provide a platform for persons with disabilities to showcase
their talents. Through the programme, the organisers thought to convey a positive message to the people around that “we are all equal with a weaknesses or other, and we also do have our own