Nagaland government directed to submit Action Taken Report on vaccination of PwDs

Dimapur, July 8 (EMN): The Court of State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) has directed the government of Nagaland, State Disaster Management Authority and Health department to submit an Action Taken Report in connection with prioritising PwDs in testing, treatment and vaccination of Covid-19, within seven days of receipt of the notice.

The notice dated July 7 stated that the Court of State Commissioner for PwDs had received the affidavit dated June 29 filed by two respondents, it said would be read as a joint confirmation by all the respondents. It added that “the matter is disposed of”.

“It is observed that the respondents have taken the necessary steps in giving special priority for Covid-19 vaccination to persons with disabilities and inclusion of the Unique Disability Identification Card (UDID) in the list of prescribed photo ID documents to avail the vaccination,” read the order.

“However, since Covid-19 pandemic is ongoing and taking into account any such eventualities in the future, the respondents are once again requested and directed that in the coming days, for any public healthcare situation/action, wide publication and awareness must be made, specifying and ensuring that priority and preference is given to persons with disabilities,” it added.

The order went on to state that the rights and privileges of PwDs should not be overlooked or denied whatsoever.

It may be mentioned that Court of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) had on June 3 issued notice to the state government regarding prioritising vaccination of persons with disabilities.

The respondents were requested to immediately initiate action as envisaged under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. They were also asked to implement Union Health Ministry’s directive to vaccinate PwDs without prescribed identity cards through CoWIN, adding that it should be should be carried out in co-ordination with the Social Welfare department.