[dropcap]U[/dropcap]nited Nations (UN) International Day of Persons with Disabilities is annually held on December 3 to focus on issues that affect people with disabilities worldwide. And to re-affirm and draw attention to the rights of people who live with disabilities. The International Day is a global observance and not a public holiday.People from many countries worldwide participate in various ways to promote the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. Events may include art exhibitions promoting artwork by people with disabilities. Other events take the form of protests to highlight the difficulties disabled people have in playing a full role in society.
The United Nations Decade of Disabled Persons was held from 1983 to 1992 to enable Governments and organizations to implement measures to improve the life of disabled persons all over the world. On October 14, 1992, the UN General Assembly proclaimed December 3 as the International Day of Disabled Persons.
This day was first observed on December 3, 1992. On December 18, 2007, the assembly changed the observance’s name from the “International Day of Disabled Persons” to the “International Day of Persons with Disabilities”. The new name was first used in 2008.
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is coordinated by United Nations Enable, which works to support and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. The symbol of Enable is the blue UN symbol and the word “enable”. The UN symbol consists of an azimuthal equidistant projection of the globe centered on the North Pole surrounded by olive branches. The word “enable” is written entirely in lower case letters. The letter “e” is red and the other letters are blue.
The Nagaland Department of Social Security and Welfare is responsible for the schemes for persons with disabilities. The Nagaland Parents Association for the Disabled (NAPAD), an NGO, have alleged that the schemes introduced by the State Government are yet to be implemented within the State. There are 26,499 disabled persons
There is no state specific legislation for persons with disabilities. The Government of Nagaland has implemented some schemes like appliances free of cost, free bus travel on State Transport. Students with disabilities from Class I to VIII are provided with monthly stipend. Provisions for reservation of Government Jobs, loans to take up trades such as grocery selling, vegetable gardening/vending, raising pigs, poultry, tailoring, handicrafts, etc. There are other Central schemes also.
Above all, let us give them love, understanding and social protection.
