Day for differently abled persons
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 03 2014 : Besides announcing an increase of the one time financial assistance for differently abled persons from Rs 3000 to Rs 6000, Social Welfare Minister AK Mirabai conveyed that the State Govt has decided to increase scholarship amount given to differently abled persons from next year.

AK Mirabai was addressing the International Day of Persons with Disability today at Kangshang Khuman Lampak Sports Complex organised by Social Welfare Dept, Govt of Manipur.

Mirabai also informed that scholarship money given to school children with disabilities from nursery to class V has already been raised to Rs 200 from Rs 40 and Rs 300 from Rs 60 for students from classes VI to XII, and Rs 400 and Rs 600 will be offered to students pursuing graduate and post-graduate from 2014 .

Pointing out that the Chief Minister had already launched a scheme for extending marriage incentive award to persons with disability, the Minister informed all concerned to Submit the application form for availing the benefits within Dec 24 this year.

One should not be discouraged because of physical disability, the Minister said while adding that differently abled persons are capable of doing what others cannot do.

Mirabai said the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has already inspected a site at Takyelpat for setting up a Composite Resource Centre.

She said that necessary works for the centre would be taken up soon.

Denying that fund for setting up of an IT centre for differently abled persons has been misappropriated, the Minister sought the cooperation of all concerned towards the setting up of the IT centre.

Principal Secretary (Social Welfare) SK Dev Verman, joint Secretary L Nabakishore and Director Dr Rangitabali Waikhom also attended the programme.

Medal winners of Special Olympics World Summer Games held in 2011 in Athens.

Greece were honoured on the occasion.

LAMKA .

Churachandpur today observed the World Disability Day with as many as five disabled bodies joining hands to make the day a meaningful event while the Centre for Community Initiative (CC1) launched its year-long 'Love Thothong' campaign in an attempt to spread the message of social inclusion to the public.

The function attended by Mamram Sharma.

Additional DC of Churachandpur, Colonel Anil Kumar, CO Khuga Bn and A Umarani Devi, DSWO Churachandpur as special guests witnessed inspiring and emotional moment as students of TMI, Mercy Home and others presented their special numbers.

The DSWO also presented several aid and appliances to some members of the special community.

Maniram, in his speech called on the special community to defy the common perception of being dependent on others and be prepared to fight and face any insult and rejection that may come from the society.

Recalling his own experiences, he said having the fighting spirit will nurture the hidden talent God has given to each one.

Meanwhile, the CCI has launched its year-long campaign for social inclusion named 'Love Thothong,' a campaign inspired by a person with intellectual disabilities but was known to anyone living here.

Drawn by his unique nature of wearing ladies dress despite being a male, Thothong, according to the CCI, could have led a marital life had the society given normal treatment to him.

He was even baptized, attended Church regularly and was treated as a regular person in his family.

The Love Thothong campaign thus seeks to sensitize the people of the district, change their attitude, perceptions and beliefs towards the community and transform the district as a 'disabled aware' district.

Street campaigns, video screenings, sensitization programmes, poster campaigns, training and capacity building, cycle rally and outreach are some of the means the CCI has outlined to deliver their messages to the people through their campaign.

UKHRUL.

The All Tribal Disabled Union, Manipur (ATDUM) in collaboration with Ukhrul District Disabled Organisation observed the international day of differently abled persons at Litan Sareikhong, Ukhrul district today.

SDO of Ukhrul, Worshang Hungyo, chairman of Tangkhul Aze Longphang Mayarmi Jajo and Hemthang Baite, chief of Litan Sareikhong village attended the programme.

IMPHAL EAST.

As observed in different parts of the world, the World Disabled Day was observed at Porompat under the aegis of SSA Imphal East, District Project Officer.

This year's theme of World Disabled Day is 'Sustainable Development: The Promise of Technology' .

Imphal East DC Mongjam Joy Singh, ZEO/District Project Officer, Imphal East C Ningkhalem and Imphal East CMO Dr Puspa Rai attended the function as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Speaking at the gathering, M Joy appealed to all the people to help and support all disabled children.

All children should be treated equally but very often disabled children were discriminated.

Government departments should ensure that disabled persons and their families have access to different schemes launched specially for them.

Puspa Rai said that disabled children .

are special children.

Since the Sarva Shiskha Abhiyan was launched, disabled children are now entitled to several benefits.

Out of the total of 1030 disabled children listed in Imphal East district, 966 children are given formal education in Government schools free of cost under SSA.

Moreover, 200 children have been given different forms of assistance.

Later six numbers of wheel chairs and nine hearing aids were distributed to disabled persons.

The function also featured a painting competition followed by a cultural programme.

IMPHAL WEST.

The IED, cell of District Project Office, SSA, Imphal West Zone-1 organised the World Disabled Day 2014 with the theme Sustainable Development : The Promise of Technology today at ZEO office Zone-1, Khoyathong Pukhri Achouba Mapal.

Speaking as the chief guest of the programme, K Radhakumar, DC, Imphal West called upon all concerned to shift focus to sustainable development.

He said that organising a special day for differently abled persons is very encouraging for all.

President of the'function, N Praveen Singh, Director of Education (S) stressed on the need to identify children with special needs and avail essential benefits to them.

ZEO/DPO (SSA), Imphal West, Maibam Gopimohon said that there are many talented differently abled persons m the State who possess extraordinary qualities like Helen Keller.

The potential of the differently abled persons cannot be tapped overnight.

SENAPATI.

Senapati Disable People Association, Manipur (SDPAM) and the All Disable Union Sadar Hills (ADUSH) observed the International Day for persons with disability at Multi-Purpose Hall, Senapati today.

The programme was jointly organized by the SDPAM, AD0SH and MANEDA in collaboration with the SSA-RTE, Senapati under the theme 'Sustainable Development: The Promises of Technologies' .

The function was attended by Dr H Loli Mao, CMO, Senapati as chief guest.

AS Robinson, District Social Welfare Officer, Senapati and T Peter Rangnamei, Secretary, MANEDA also attended programme.

The observation was also attended by Seikhomang Khongsai.

President, Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills and Daileru, President, SKAWWA where the duo also exhorted the differently abled persons not to be disheartened being physically-challenged.

The Gorkha Samaj and Gorkha Students' Union, Senapati Zone, special teachers of the SSA RET, Gospel Talent Training Centre Principal and his team, staff of MANEDA' Innocent Smile School students and member of the SDPAM and ADUSH were present on the occasion.

JIR1BAM. Additional District Programme Office, Jiribam (ADPO) and Achievement of Rising Maiden (ARM) jointly organised similar programme at Institute for Children with Disablities (ICD) today.

The programme was attended by H Bina Devi, Councillor, Ward No 9, Jiribam Municipal Council, S Jadhop Singh, president, Parents Association of ICD, Jiribam, Lalmani Meitei, AI of Schools, Jiribam and H Dhoni Meitei, president, Meitei National Front, Jiribam Branch as the chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.

Apart from cultural performances, disbaled children were presented with aid and appliances.

CHANGANGEI.

"Persons with disabilities have many capabilities in different ways which general people' never, thought of.

Therefore, we need to harness, those capabilities with the support of different stake holders working in the field", said Ch Brajachand Singh, Member Secretary, Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) while speaking at the observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 2014 held at The Centre for Mental Hygiene, Changangei Ucheckon, Airport- Road, Imphal Today.

The observance function was jointly organized by Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA), The Centre for Mental Hygiene, (CMH) and Helping Hands Group, Imphal (HHG), an organization working for the welfare of student community.

WANGOI.

The day was also observed at Block Resource Centre premises, ZEO/APO, DBE, SSA Wagoi today under the aegis of IDDPZEO/ADPO, SSA Wangoi.

MLA O Lukhoi Singh and R Yangsorang, ZEO Wangoi attended the programme as the chief guest and president respectively.

WINTER MELA.

The 2nd Winter Disabled Mela for Inclusive Society held'in connection with the International Day of Persons with Disability was inaugurated today at Tera Bazar.

The mela is being organised by Relief Centre for the Welfare of Differently Abled Persons, Manipur.

A total of 52 stalls were opened in the mela.

The inaugural function of the mela was attended by Jeena Potsangbam, chairperson, NCUI Project Coordination Committee; P Sunder Singh, Upadhyaksha, Imphal East; Thokchom Sumanta, member.

Patsoi ZP; Nongthongbam Rani, pradhan, Bijoygovinda GP; Ch Opendro Singh, former president, RCWDAP and Dr Dhanabir Laishram as the presidium members.

Dwelling on the urgency to adopt a State policy for differently abled persons, Ch Opendro Singh said that the goal of inclusivity would be achieved if the policy is implemented in the State.

Although the Govt makes tall claims about 3 percent reservation for differently abled persons in job recruitment, the same has not been implemented in letter and spirit, he pointed out.

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