Disabled persons
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, January 20 2013 : Even though several welfare schemes have been taken up under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunity, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995, hundreds of disabled persons are not getting any benefit from these schemes.

62 year old Ahongshangbam Kunjabihari of Maklang Part II, Imphal West district is one among the hundreds of disabled persons who are craving for some assistance from the Government but are not getting any.

Under different schemes taken up by the Government, disabled persons having disability certificates are entitled to different forms of assistance such as pension, unemployment allowance etc.

With the pension amount fixed at Rs 200 and unemployment allowance between Rs 250 to Rs 300, they are of little help to the disabled persons.

Even then, many disabled persons are not getting this trifling amounts in time and some are not getting at all.

A Kunjabihari is literally invalid after he was buried by a falling wall and suffered multiple fractures on the backbone.

He is also suffering from continual pain.

"Though I possess disability certificate, all the applications seeking enrolment of pension scheme and wheel-chair have fallen into deaf ears", Kunjabihari lamented.

Earlier, Kunjabihari used to work as a carpenter building wooden houses and he could successfully send all her seven children to educational institutions.

But after the fateful accident, Kunjabihari has been rendered an invalid.

After primary treatment and surgical operation at Guwahati, Kunjabihari could not afford any further treatment.

He could not move on his own and he is being lifted by his family members whenever he wishes to move.

Of his seven children, two girls have got married, while the remaining five are earning the family's livelihood by working as agricultural labourers.

Kunjabihari's wife Keinahanbi said, "I cannot bear the disabled and wearied condition of my husband.

At times, we could only weep and curse our own fate.

It would be a great relief if the Government extends a little help" .

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