YARD conducts sensitization programme for community leaders on Persons with Disabilities

EMN
Dimapur, March 1

[dropcap]Y[/dropcap]outh Action for Rural Development (YARD) conducted sensitization programme for community leaders on Persons with Disabilities on February 27 at Jakhama village, Kohima.
While implementing the project – ‘Community Based Rehabilitation Project(CBR) for Persons with Disabilities’ with support from CARITUS India, Youth Action for Rural Development(YARD) has conducted ‘sensitization programme’ for community leaders on Person with Disabilities with Asst. Professor Kohima Law College Kezhokhoto Savi who is also president NVCO & convenor ACAUT Nagaland(legal cell) as the main resourced person.Prof. Savi termed the misappropriation of funds meant for the implementation of the inclusive Education for the Secondary Stage(EDSS) to the tune of Rs.12.79 crore as ‘serious and shameful deeds of corruption’ causing huge loss towards human resource development of the Persons with Disabilities in the state and also made a strong appeal to the Special Investigation Team(SIT) of Vigilance & Anti-Corruption department to investigate the corrupt practices with sincerity and integrity for the interest of justice and to ensure the rights of the Persons with Disabilities in particular.
As a social activist Savi appealed to the community leaders attending the sensitization programme from 12 villages of Southern Angami area representing village councils, churches, youth, student, women, etc to respect the rights of Person with Disability and he also apprised of the requirement to form ‘Disability Rights Movement’ to secure equal opportunity and equal rights for people with disabilities and also to fight against corruption in taking away the shares of person with disability in the state.
The quality of life of every person with disability is equal to that of other able person in the community and gives equal opportunity, protection of rights and full participation to the persons with disabilities, he said and further appealed to provide capacity building to empower them.
“The rights of Persons with Disabilities are to be respected and to be implemented as per the Persons with Disabilities Act 1995, the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, Mental Health Act 1987, National Trust Act 1999, etc. It is also very disheartening to learn that the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities have not been provided any infrastructure to execute the most important functions in protecting and promoting the rights of person with disabilities in the state of Nagaland. The rights of Person with Disability may also be honoured in accessibility and safety in transportation, architecture and the physical environment, equal opportunities in independent living, employment, education, housing, and also freedom from abuse, neglect, violations of patient rights, etc.”