State Platform of Disabled People's Organisation voices for disabled persons in State
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 29 2022:
State Platform of Disabled People's Organisation (SPDPO), Manipur has made an appeal to continue the grant-in-aid (GIA) funding provided for skill development training to organisations run by disabled persons.
Md Yunus Khan, president, SPDPO Manipur, made the appeal during a press conference held at Manipur Press Club today.
The SPDPO president also called for office buildings, schools, colleges and market places to be made more accessible to persons with disabilities as per the Rights of Persons With Disabilities Act 2016 .
Aside from this, he also demanded quotas for disabled persons in the development schemes launched by various departments as well as in job recruitment and admission to schools, colleges, institutions etc.
Further, he demanded the hostels, playgrounds, toilets, bathrooms etc under the Department of Youth Affairs and Sports to be made accessible to disabled persons.
Highlighting the lack of playing ground, equipment and separate restrooms for girls and boys for disabled sportspersons, he urged the relevant authorities to remedy the situation and further suggested the launching of a sports tournament for disabled persons.
Md Yunus Khan then called for more awareness about the Right to Persons With Disabilities Act 2016 and demanded Government officers such as , IAS, MCS, IPS, MPS, CMO to be well-educated in this regard.
Touching upon the upcoming Sangai Festival, he demanded stalls for disabled persons while waiving the stall fees and called for the festival to be made more accessible to them.
He further urged people, associations or organisations to stop going door-to-door and asking for donations in the name of 'disabilities' .
"Please do not enforce the negative stereotype of disabled people being beggars," he added.