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(Right) Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Dr. Kamlesh Kumar Pandey[/caption]
Kohima Bureau
Kohima, July 9 (EMN): Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Dr. Kamlesh Kumar Pandey, on Monday made a discomforting observation that Nagaland is still in a ‘preliminary stage’ with regard to Persons with Disabilities (PwD) issues and his interaction with some stakeholders indicated a larger concern for grants.
Pandey along with deputy chief commissioner PwD Dr. Sanjay Kant Prasad, is currently in Kohima to review the status of implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016 in the state.
The visiting central officials accompanied by the state commissioner PwD Dr. Atha Vizol, held a series of meetings today with the state department for Social Welfare, secretaries and heads of various departments, NGOs working for the welfare of PwD.
When asked about the key grievances highlighted at the meetings, the chief commissioner expressed dismay that most of the stakeholders were ‘not much aware regarding disabilities’. He said several points of grievances were noted but added, “There was no proper questions... They’re only concerned with grants.”
Pandey also observed that during the discourses, awareness on central government schemes and activities for the welfare of PwD were still at a preliminary stage. Towards this, he informed that in order to reach out to PwD and hear their grievances pertaining to availability of benefits meant for them, his office was organising mobile courts in different parts of the country along with the PwD commissioners of the concerned states. Highlighting on the mobile courts, Pandey said that these mobile courts enable complaints to be registered, examined, heard in consultation with the officers of concerned departments and necessary orders or directions are issued by the CCPwD in matters pertaining to central government departments, and by the state commissioner PwD in respect of matters relating to state government departments on the spot, as far as possible.
While stating that 42 such mobile courts have already been organised in 22 states across India, Pandey proposed for the same to be held in Nagaland’s remote areas in particular.
He pointed out that the government has many schemes for PwDs and in 2017 alone, INR 4 cr was sanctioned to the northeast states but the amount was not utilised due to non-implementation of the schemes.
The visiting officials expressed regret that they could not meet Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Governor PB Acharya this time as they were attending the NEC meeting in Shillong; and the chief secretary too, as he was on leave. CCPwD Pandey was hopeful that he would meet them soon so as to get their views and feedback.