ATDUM filed a PIL at Manipur High Court
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 15, 2013: he All Tribal Disabled Union, Manipur (ATDUM) has filed a PIL at Manipur High Court seeking decentralisation of the authority for issue of disability certificates and implementation of Chapter 8 of the Disability Act, 1995.Speaking to reporters at the office of ATDUM located at Nagaram Block-D, Stadium Road, ATDUM president Momo Tantanga said many disabled persons have faced unnecessary trouble while obtaining disability certificate.

He said one has to undergo treatment first at JNIMS and submit the treatment records to the Social Welfare dept.

The disability certificates are issued after four months of submission of treatment records to SW dept.

The process is not only lengthened but also caused inconveniences to many disabled persons coming from far-flung areas to obtain the certificate, Momo said while urging the authority concerned to simplify the process.

He said his organisation has urged the authority concerned for simplification of the process umpteen times but only to fall on deaf ear.

Momo recalled a resolution adopted during a meeting of the Social Welfare dept officials with Chief Secretary DS Poonia in July 2010 which gave approval for issuance of disability certificates in the district level.

Accordingly, the Health dept had issued an order to this effect in January 2011.Much to the disadvantage of the disabled persons, the order has not been implemented till date, he rued.

As such, the union has been filing the PIL at the Manipur High Court.

Advocate Moirangthem Devananda has been appointed as the legal aid counsel for the union, Momo said.

At the same time, Momo also demanded the enforcement of provision of Chapter 8 of the Person with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 .

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