Often ignored, Nagaland’s people with disability reaffirm hope

State’s govt. criticised for improper implementation of welfare act

[caption id="attachment_152901" align="aligncenter" width="565"] Diethono Nakhro, right, speaking at the International Day of Persons with Disability at Kohima on December 3. (EM Images)[/caption] Kohima, Dec. 3 (EMN): The world observes International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on Dec. 3 with the theme ‘Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all’ to empower people with disability to be active contributors of the society. However, it is sad to observe that they are often ignored and marginalised both by the society and government. ‘People with disabilities are not demanding anything extraordinary. We are just asking that our right to live as equal citizens with equal opportunities in Nagaland be recognised,’ said Diethono Nakhro, a rights activist during a programme at the Highland Park in Kohima on Sunday afternoon. This year’s observation of the important day, she said, is of particular significance as it also marks the one year anniversary of the passing of the Rights of Persons with Disability Bill (RPWD Act 2016) in Parliament in December 2016, which came into force on April 19, 2017. She pointed out matter-of-factly that in spite of the 1995 Act being in existence for more than 20 years, ‘not even a single law contained in it was ever properly implemented by the Nagaland government, and none of the numerous directives issued by the Supreme Court from time to time have been complied with properly either.’ ‘People with disabilities have thus remained ignored and marginalised with their rights violated by the state government and society at large,’ Nakhro said. She asserted that ‘this unconscionable failure cannot and must not be repeated with the RPWD Act 2016.’ Thus, as per the provisions of the RPWD Act 2016, she strongly asserted that the state’s government must make rules to carry out the provisions of the act not later than six months from the date of commencement of the act. ‘We are now completing the eight month since the new act was enacted and sadly the Nagaland state rules are yet to be notified and hence implementation is yet to begin,’ she said. While observing that PwDs represent the most excluded of all groups in our society, Nakhro noted also that they were completely missing from the development landscape—majority of children with disabilities cannot get proper or full education due to lack of accessibility both in the physical environment and the curriculum. Other issues include lack of trained teachers, overall poor awareness and understanding of disability and, most importantly, and failure to implement existing laws. Also, Nakhro pointed out that most of the adults with disabilities are unable to participate in community activities; they have no access to the labour market and often encounter serious obstacles and discrimination in seeking employment or income-generating activities. Girls and women with disabilities, particularly those with psychosocial disabilities, are extremely vulnerable to physical and sexual abuse, the gathering was told. While being optimistic that ‘inclusive and enabling Nagaland’ where ‘no one is left behind’ is not an impossible dream, she said ‘all it needs is political will and a strong commitment to take everyone along.’ ‘For too long, Nagaland has ignored, excluded, isolated and neglected its citizens with disabilities. This is not only unfair – it is morally wrong,’ said Nakhro. She maintained that for change to begin, the state’s government needs to make the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 a priority. The activist stated her confidence that the marginalisation and exclusion of people with disabilities can be eliminated to a large extent given that ‘the laws are implemented strictly.’ She has demanded that the State Disability Rules be processed and notified without further delay and that its implementation should begin. Without concrete action on the ground, she said, observance of the event is ‘simply empty, meaningless and hypocritical events that just undermine the disability community further.’