Disabled bodies divided over hill bandh
Source: Hueiyen News Service

Imphal, September 06, 2013: The Association of Persons with Disabilities, Senapati (APDS), Ukhrul Disabled Federation (UDF), Tamenglong Disabled Association (TDA) and Chandel Disabled Federation (CDF) have decided to endorse the 72-hour bandh called by All Tribal Disabled Students' Union (ATDSU) starting from the midnight of September 8 in all the hill districts of Manipur.

Yesterday, All Tribal Disabled Union, Sadar Hills (ATDUSH) and the Senapati Disabled People's Association, Manipur (SDPAM) had taken a joint decision not to support the 72-hour Manipur hill districts bandh from midnight of September 8 by All Tribal Disabled Students' Union (ATDSU).

Meanwhile, ATDSU in a press release said that it has been demanding to set up a special school with hostel facilities for the tribal disabled students at one of the tribal district of Manipur and decentralization of the authority for issue of Disability Certificates at the level of District Hospitals (DHs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) Primary Health Centres (PHCs).

"There is only one school in Manipur which is situated at Takyelpat specially for blind, deaf & mute students/persons but other disabled persons such as locomotor disability (LD), Mentally retarded (MR) and others have no place in that school.

In view of this, special attention is drawn to establish/set up a special school where any nature of disabled persons can attend in it," the press note further stated.

It then said that generally, the disabled persons have been disriminated by the general public in every field.

The infrastructure provided in the normal schools are not suitable for the disabled students.

As per section 26 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act of 1995, there should be special school for disabled students/children with a provision of free education till a person attains the age of 18 years.

According to the disabled body, due to lack of education, the tribal disabled children, students and persons are unable to claim their rightful quota of employment/jobs in the Governmental establishments and as such their quota of employment gets unfilled even though posts are vacant or filled up by the general candidates or persons.

"Due to non enrolment and lack of education among the tribal disabled children and students or persons, so many talented and good tribal disabled children, students and persons have wasted their talents and are unable to contribute their potentiality in the nation building task.

Even though there is free education policy for the disabled children, students and persons by the State or Central Government and other beneficial schemes in the education sector, these facilities cannot be availed of due to lack of Special School for the tribal disabled children, students and persons," the press release alleged.

Regarding the issue of disability certificates, it said that these days the issue of Disability Certificates in the State of Manipur is being done in a very centralized manner.

"A disabled person is first of all examined and treaded at JNIMS and then related medical documents are submitted to the office of the Social Welfare Department, Govt.of Manipur and thereafter going through the process of about four months, the Disability Certificate is issued.

Due to this procedure being adopted by the State Goveernment, there are still more than 70% disabled persons permanently residing at far-flung hill areas of the State without having the opportunity or means to obtain such a disability certificate," the press note said while adding, "And because of non-obtaining of disability certificate, many deserving tribal differently-abled persons residing at far-flung hill areas of the State of Manipur are unable to get any benefits under the Governmental Welfare Schemes meant for the disabled persons.

Having aware of the problems faced by the differently-abled persons residing at far-flung hill areas of the State in obtaining disability certificates, it was recommended by a Committee Chaired by the Hon'ble Chief Secretary of the State.

As however, nothing is implemented till today".

Even though there are many beneficial schemes for the disabled children/students/persons provided by the State/Central Government, these facilities cannot be availed of due to lack of facility supposed to be issued at the level of District Hospitals (DHs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) Primary Health Centres (PHCs), the press release said.

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