Upholding disability rights is a moral imperative, says Nagaland SCPD

DIMAPUR — Diethono Nakhro, the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (SCPD), stated that upholding the rights of persons with disabilities (PwDs) is more than just a matter of policy; it is a moral imperative, a commitment to justice, equity and human dignity.

‘We are at a watershed moment, marked by both progress and challenge, and while there have been significant strides in advancing disability rights, there is still much work to be done in the disability sector,’ she said during the first conference of North East State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities on Thursday.

The inaugural conference was hosted by the SCPD, Department of Social Welfare, in Nagaland at Noune Resort, Seithekiema-A village, and saw representation from five states, including Assam, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim.

Delivering the keynote address, Nakhro said that government of Nagaland has taken significant initiatives to promote inclusion, accessibility and empowerment, and with government support, they were determined to break the barriers and build a more equitable society for all, including citizens with disabilities.

However, nearly seven years have passed since the Rights of Person with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, came into force and while there is no doubt that efforts have been made by all concerned across the country, there is still a huge gap in the implementation, and people with disabilities continue to be deprived of their rights in various areas, she said.

In the context of the north-east region, Nakhro noted that there are unique challenges, such as rough terrain and limited availability of space, which makes it difficult to ensure that infrastructure accessibility meets the required standards. Funding and resource constraints also pose a significant barrier, she said.

She went on to say that conferences, such as the ongoing one, will provide opportunities to address region-specific challenges and serve as a platform for collaborations to find solutions and also share information, experiences and strategies that have worked well for them.

Special guest for the inaugural programme, Wangpang Konyak, who is also the advisor for Social Welfare, noted that even after seven years since the enactment of the RPwD Act, 2016, there are still limitations in its implementation, thereby systemically denying PwDs of their rights.

In this connection, he urged the gathering to undertake more intensive and extensive exercises on educating and creating awareness on the Act, as awareness is crucial for total implementation.

He said that the Act was notified by the state in 2020, and an independent SCPD office is fully functional. Under the RPwD Act, 4% reservation of posts in government jobs has been notified for PwDs and is being strictly implemented in all recruitment exercises, he maintained.

Konyak went on to state that ensuring accessibility in public buildings and spaces as well as public transportation and communication systems is a top priority and various steps have been taken to sensitise and train the concerned authorities.

Furthermore, inclusive education, skill development, sports and rehabilitation as well as healthcare services are also major areas of concern for the government, he said. Though there is still a lot of work to be done, we were making steady progress, and this has been largely due to the strong role played by the SCPD office, he added.

Following the inaugural session, a technical session was held, delving into the implementation status of the RPwD Act, 2016 across the north-east region. It also facilitated a vital exchange of information and best practices concerning the implementation of the Act.

The participants also discussed policy development and advocacy, collective identification of policy gaps, areas of improvement, and the need for amendments in the implementation of the Act, and empowerment of persons with disabilities to ensure their full and equal participation in the society.