"We Ring The Bell" campaign kicks off at Khurai
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 18 2023:
The seven-day "We Ring The Bell" campaign was kicked off today at Khurai Popular High School, Khurai.
The campaign was jointly organised by the Handicapped Development Foundation, Manipur; Jan Vikas Samiti, Varanasi and Liliane Fonds, Netherlands under the theme "All Children are welcome to school, including children with disability" .
The opening ceremony of the campaign was graced by Robinson, Deputy Director, Disability, Social Welfare Department; L Amarnath, member, MRW; Kharibam Pritam, principal, Khurai Popular High School; Ngangom John Meetei, Pradhan, Laishram Leikai Gram Panchayat and Dr Sapam Jasobanta, chairman, Handicapped Development Foundation, Manipur as the presidium members.
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Speaking on the occasion, Dr Sapam Jasobanta stated that the seven-day 'We Ring The Bell' campaign has commenced globally to increase awareness about differently abled persons and to explore ways to extend help to this community.
He said that in the past, the issues plaguing the differently abled community were largely viewed as medical in nature but now with changing times, it has transformed into a human rights issue.
In order to ensure that differently abled persons get their basic rights, the Convention of Human Rights Persons with Disability 2006 was held with the purpose to promote, protect and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms by all persons with disabilities, and to promote respect for their inherent dignity across all countries, he maintained.
He also pointed out that out of ten differently abled children who apply for admission to a school, one is rejected as schools do not want handicapped children in their premises.
The Deputy Director went on to add that 15% of all handicapped persons in the world come from financially poor backgrounds.
"They are isolated in all aspects including education and as a result they are not presented with the same opportunities as their peers.
If they can be properly educated, it can play a key role in dealing with the problem of poverty", he maintained.
To ensure that handicapped children receive the light of education, schools must create a space for them.
They must be allowed to seek and gain admission and their needs must be met, he asserted.
On the part of students, they must treat handicapped students with kindness and understanding.
"When they become well-educated and upstanding citizens, they will be able to successfully improve their economic condition", Dr Sapam Jasobanta said.