‘Worst Thing About Disability Is People See It Before You Do’ - Eastern Mirror
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Nagaland

‘Worst thing about disability is people see it before you do’

6103
By Our Correspondent Updated: Nov 05, 2017 12:20 am
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School children seen at the rally Include Vidya Campaign at Kohima on November 4.

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Nov. 4 (EMN): Putting across its message loud and clear against discrimination of People with Disabilities (PwDs), school children during a rally were seen holding placards that read: ‘make our environment accessible, then we will be independent’; ‘the worst thing about disability is that people see it before they see you’; ‘we did not chose the way we are, so don’t hate us or stay aloof from us’.
The school children took to the street to spread awareness about inclusive education for all children, irrespective of his/her disability, for equal rights and opportunities for all at a rally as part of the Include Vidya Campaign at Kohima on November 4.
The campaign, organised under the aegis of RAISE NE (Regional Action on Inclusive Education in Northeast), complements the government’s flagship programme Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) to achieve its goal ‘Education for all.’
The primary objective of the rally is to spread the message that children with disabilities too have equal rights to access to education, which goes beyond enrolment to active learning, participation in the classrooms as well as the playing field and other extracurricular activities.
Observing that inclusive education is lagging behind in the state, director of higher secondary of school education, Wonthungo Tsopoe stressed on the need for inclusive education to give equal opportunity to all.
Flagging off the rally at the over-bridge above Mezhür Higher Secondary School, Tsopoe maintained that to achieve this goal, awareness must be created at the village level so that none of the children are deprived because of his/her disability.
Disability Commissioner, Kohima, Dr. Atha Vizol said the rally was to create awareness among the public and spread the message that children with disabilities are ‘human beings’ with right to education; and live their lives like anyone else and not confined within the four walls of the home.
Reiterating that the rally is not a protest against anyone, advisor to Nagaland State Disable Forum (NSDF), Diethono Nakhro said ‘it is about standing up and showing ourselves that we deserve to have the equal rights to education.’
As per the Nagaland Census 2011, there are 29,631 people with disabilities in the state.
Meanwhile, in an inter-school competition held at the State Academy Hall, St. Mary’s Cathedral School, Baptist Higher Secondary School and Coriaggio School were adjudged as first, second and third in the group, while Minister’s Hill Hr. Sec. School, Model Hr. Sec. School and Cherry Blossoms School were declared and first, second and third in the group dance competition.
The winners were awarded with cash prizes of Rs.3000/-, Rs. 2000/- and Rs. 1000/- respectively in both the categories.
Special prizes were also given away to G. Rio School and Tabitha Enabling Academy with a sum of Rs. 1500/- each. The judges for the competition were singer and songwriter, Virie Kuotsu and songwriter and entrepreneur, Vizosielie Khoubve.

6103
By Our Correspondent Updated: Nov 05, 2017 12:20:12 am
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