MOKOKCHUNG — State Commissioner for Person with Disability, Diethono Nakhro, has asserted that most of the laws relating to Rights of Person with Disability Act (RPDA) 2016 have not been implemented in the state.
Speaking at an awareness programme on persons with disabilities held in the conference hall of the deputy commissioner’s office in Mokokchung town, Nakhro everybody seemed to know what disability is but many are not aware about what needs to be done.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]The programme was organised by the district administration and Mokokchung District Disabled Forum (MDDF) and supported by the State Commissioner for Person with Disabilities, Nagaland.
She stated that till today most of the disability laws have not been implemented.
"We have to be honest that there has been huge neglect in the disability sector. Nobody is aware of it, even the government and as well as the departments are aware of it,” Nakhro said.
She added that all the governments have failed to address the disability issues in many aspects. In this regard, she stated it is not only the responsibility of the government but the entire society as a whole has a responsibility for the disabled community.
Nakhro stated that the church, which is so central to our lives, has a huge role to play in helping the people with disability to participate in the society. She also added that the tribal bodies/civil societies too have a huge role to play to include the disabled in every walk of life.
“Pity is not the thing they need but equal opportunities is what they want,” she said.
Nevertheless, she stated that there has been a lot of progress in recent years and the disabled movement has become stronger because many young people are standing up and voicing out their rights and everyone is becoming more aware of the issue.
“The reality is that only now we are starting from zero level because nothing was done for so many years. Therefore, we have so much works to do and a long way to go,” she added.
The programme was attended by members form civil societies, NGOs and various departments.