ATDUM's interference nearly derails 'Disable Camp' in Ukhrul
Source: Hueiyen News Service / Pamreiso Shimray
Ukhrul, November 09 2012:
The effort of Social Welfare Department (SWD) nearly went down the drain after the activists of All Tribal Disables Union Manipur (ATDUM) intercepted a team of departmental officials heading for disable camp in Ukhrul at Mahadev.
On Thursday, activists of ATDUM stopped a 14-member team of Social Welfare Department including specialist doctors who were in two vehicles and bound for "Assessment cum Identification Camp for Person with Disabilities and Issue of Disability Certificate" at Mahadev hill and detained them for about an hour.
However, the SWD team was allowed to proceed to Ukhrul after an understanding was reached between the two parties.
The disable assessment camp at the Ukhrul mini-secretariat was successfully conducted and about 200 disables participated in it.
The ATDUM activists, sources said, were apparently objected to the SWD's manner of organizing a programme without consultation with the Union.
Social Welfare Officer, Ukhrul Makabo stated the camp was organized mainly for the deserving disables in the district and enrolled them for any benefits to be provided by the government.
The ATDUM's action on Thursday has come under serious criticism from the disables in Ukhrul.
Chungmi Ragui, President of Person with Disability of Ukhrul District has expressed displeasure over the manner in which the SWD team was stopped and detained from attending the camp.
"The ATDUM has no business to interfere in the affairs of disables in Ukhrul.
It is a self-styled organization," he stated.
Meanwhile, Indigenous Mothers Association (IMA) has raised pertinent question over the way the camp was organized in Ukhrul.
IMA President Tamreiwon Zimik felt that the programme was organized without giving proper publicity and time.
"The camp was conducted without disseminating the information widely through mass media and many disables from interior areas were not able to attend the programme," she asserted.
IMA contended that the camp should be taken to the other areas in district so as to reach the deserving disables living in far-flung areas.
The Ukhrul Social Welfare Department has also admitted this time that the camp was accessible only to those living in and around the district headquarters.