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Neiphiu Rio with the representatives of People with Disabilities in Nagaland.[/caption]
Dimapur, June 21 (EMN): In expressing ‘full support’ to the demands of people with disability in Nagaland, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has assured to take steps to ensure implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016 in the state.
According to a press release from disability rights activist Diethono Nakhro, the chief minister gave said assurance during a meeting on June 20. “Discussion was held on various important disability issues in the state, particularly implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 (RPWD Act 2016),” she said in a press release.
“The RPWD Act 2016 came into force on April 19, 2017, and all states and Union territories, including Nagaland, were required to notify the State Rules and start implementation within 6 (six) months of the Disability Act becoming law. The Supreme Court has also, on April 25 last year, asked all the states and Union territories to take immediate steps to comply with the requirements of the Disability Act and file compliance reports. It further directed that special courts be set up in each district to conduct trial of offences committed against them within three months.
“Despite the above as well as the strong urgings of the disability community, Nagaland is yet to make any concrete move towards implementation of the Disability Act even with the passage of more than a year,” the handout stated.
According to the press release, the community has reminded that despite the old Disability Act of 1995 being in existence for more than 20 years, not even a single law contained in it was ever properly implemented in the state by successive governments. Numerous directives were also been issued by the Supreme Court from time to time, but none have been complied with either, it added.
“People with Disabilities in Nagaland have thus remained ignored and marginalised with their rights violated by the state government and society at large. It has stressed that this failure cannot and must not be repeated with the RPWD Act 2016.
“As committed by the NDPP (Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party) as well as the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) in their election manifestos, people living with disabilities urged the chief minister and his government to notify the State Disability Rules and start implementation of the RPWD Act without delay. The chief minister expressed full support and assured that action will be taken. We appreciate his assurance and look forward to quick and real action on the ground,” the statement read.
