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State commissioner for persons with disabilities, Diethono Nakhro, speaking at the awareness and sensitisation programme on Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 in Kohima on October 18.[/caption]
Dimapur, Oct. 20 (EMN): An awareness and sensitisation programme on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016 for the state government officials was held on October 18 at canteen hall of Nagaland PWD office building, Kohima. The programme was organised by the Mission Mode Team of Accessible India Campaign (AIC), in collaboration with the office of the state commissioner for persons with disabilities.
K Libanthung Lotha, secretary to the government of Nagaland and team leader of Mission Mode Team (AIC), gave a brief introduction about the sensitisation and awareness campaign. He mentioned that the awareness programme on the RPwD Act 2016 was the first of its kind conducted in the state with Kohima being the second district after Dimapur.
A DIPR report stated that Lotha had highlighted on the aims and objectives of the awareness campaign as well as the purpose of the Mission Mode Team which is to monitor and supervise the implementation of the RPwD Act 2016.
Resource person, Diethono Nakhro, state commissioner for persons with disabilities, gave an overview of the RPwD Act 2016 and the status of its implementation in the state. She emphasised on the sorry state of affairs in Nagaland when it comes to dealing on the subject of persons with disabilities (PwDs). She made a particular mention in construction of offices and public buildings which hindered easily accessibility for Pwds or making special facilities to facilitate equal development and creating avenues for PwDs to strive for a normal life.
She lamented that Nagaland is the only state in the entire country that does not have single proper disability rehabilitation facility or resource centre. She also discussed in detail on the various issues and hurdles faced by PwDs in the state and measures to improve the general plight of the PwDs in the state.
“Most people with disabilities in our state simply exist – they do not have a life and therefore it is our duty to ensure that steps are taken in order to improve their lives,” the report quoted her as saying.
Also speaking in the programme, K Ela, director of Prodigal’s Home, highlighted on the disability scenario in Nagaland including the various challenges faced by the PwDs and the opportunities available to them. She narrated her personal experiences and real life stories on the plight of PwDs in the state and their day-to-day life struggles.
She ended her presentation on a positive note by stating that the society is now slowly changing and becoming more accommodating towards PwDs. She also shared on success stories of a few PwDs, who were greatly benefitted from the various development programmes and achieved greater heights professionally as well as in their personal lives.
Apila Sangtam, advocate of Guwahati High Court Kohima Bench who represented the legal fraternity, shed light on the court directives of the RPwD Act 2016 and the legal implications of non-compliance with the act.
The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD) was passed by both houses of Parliament on December 16, 2016, and became operational on April 19, 2017, replacing the existing Persons with Disabilities Act 1995. The 2016 Act was passed to fulfil India’s obligation to the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which India ratified in 2007.
There are 21 specified disabilities under the RPwD Act 2016. The RPwd Act 2016 states that it is the responsibility of the government to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy the “right to equality, life with dignity and respect for his or her own integrity equally with others.”