Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, November 17 2009:
Association of Persons with Disabilities, Ukhrul district has warned of launching intense agitation from November 20 in Ukhrul district if their five-point charter of demands including 3% reservation of beneficiary scheme under Poverty Alleviation Scheme has not been materialised.
Addressing media persons today at the office of the All Tribal Disables' Union Manipur (ATDUM) located at Chingmeirong, president of APD, Ukhrul, Wungmario A Shimray lamented that even as there has been provision under Disabilities Act, 1996 that 3% of developmental schemes would be provided to disables, the same has not been materialised in the state.
He alleged that the authorities are willfully marginalising the disables.
He pointed out that there is provision for free education to disabled children below 18 years under Section 26 of the Disabilities Act.
But it is not implemented in the state.
Wungmario noted that there are over disable persons, both who were issued disable certificates and those not issued, in Ukhrul district.
Since the disable persons are unable to earn a living like normal people, they are living at the mercy of their family members.
He also observed that there is a guideline for the providing reservation for disable persons in the distribution of PDS items though it has not been materialised in the state.
He said, the association has submitted a memorandum to the DC of Ukhrul demanding fulfillment of five-point charter of demands today.