Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 05, 2010:
Decrying the failure of the State Government to implement the provisions of Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 in letter and spirit, All Tribal Disabled Union, Manipur (ATDUM) has pointed out that though the Act came into force in 1996, the Government has fail to keep the term of the Commissioner (Disabilities) for three years as mentioned in the Act.
In a statement, ATDUM pointed out that the Act has provision for appointing one Commissioner in charge of disabilities for a term of three years in all the States of India.
However, in case of Manipur, M Angou Singh was appointed as the Commissioner on March 29, 2010 and he was given retirement from service on June 30, 2010 after serving as Commissioner (Disabilities) only for three months.
Disabled persons in Manipur have been facing various difficulties as the post of the Commissioner (Disabilities) has been laying vacant and implementation of all the related developmental programmes has been stalled, ATDUM lamented.
To overcome the difficulties being faced by Persons with Disabilities in Manipur, ATDUM has demanded the Government to appoint a new Commissioner (Disabilities) within August 25. Submitting a memorandum in this regard to the Chief Secretary today, ATDUM has also warned that it may be constraint to file a PIL if the Government fails to do the needful.