PWDs decry government's apathy
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, June 25 2013: Differently abled persons or persons with disabilities (PWD) have expressed dissatisfied over the alleged indifferent attitude shown by the State Government by not earmarking not even a single penny in the State Budget for the welfare of the differently abled persons in Manipur.

Pouring out their grievances to media persons during a press conference at Manipur Press Club here today, Dr S Jashwanta, President of State Platform of Disable People's Forum, Manipur, stated that in spite of various memorandums submitted to the Chief Minister and the Social Welfare Minister to consider some of the basic points for the welfare of differently abled persons, no mention has been made at all in the State Budget for the current fiscal year.

The points which have been highlighted in the memorandum include to earmark some fund for the welfare of the differently abled persons in the State Budget; to provide grant-in-aid to Mission Blind School, Heikakpokpi and Ngariching Living Centre, Ukhrul; to grant approval to the State agency of the National Handicap Finance Development Cooperation; to institute a State policy for the differently abled persons; decentralization of the authorities concerned in providing disable certificates and to provide concessional provisions to differently abled persons in inter State and local transport service system, Jashwanta explained.

The State Government seems not to be concerned at all for the welfare of the differently abled persons and this has been clearly indicated by the manner in which the State Government has not mentioned anything for their welfare in the State Budget for this fiscal year.

The State Government should make certain provisions for the differently abled persons so that they also can participate in the development process of the State.

Md Yumus Khan, Secretary of State Platform of Disable People's Forum Manipur, who was also present during the press conference, stated that differently abled persons have been facing a whole lot of problems while collecting their disability certificates as the JNIMS is the only centre from where these certificates could be got.

So, there is the need to establish more centres where the processes of issuing disable certificates are done.

K Parengkom, General Secretary, State Platform of Disable People's Forum Manipur was also present on the occasion.

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