Love and care for PwDs stressed on their Day
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 03 2023:
Joining the rest of the world, International Day of Persons with Disabilities was observed at Zeliangrong Baptist Church, Senapati, on Sunday.
The event held under the theme "United in action to rescue and achieve the sustainable development goals for, with and by persons with disabilities" was organised by Jan Vikas Samiti, Varanasi in collaboration with Innocent Smile School, Senapati District Disable People's Association, Manipur (SDPAM), Senapati Karong Area Baptist Union (SKABU), and District Social Welfare Office (DSWO).
MANEDA director T Peter Rangnamei said that the organisation has been commemorating the day for the past 21 years in order to support people with disabilities in the district.
The director referred to the day as fortunate, describing the differently abled as the district's real decent people.
Peter Rangnamei also urged SKABU pastors present on the occasion to plan a special prayer service for persons with disabilities on December 1 of each year.
SKABU president Rev K Daniel exhorted that Christians should never look down upon those who are weak and disabled, but should love and care for them.
He thanked NGOs and organisations striving to improve the lives of the disabled in the area.
The SKABU president and all the pastors under SKABU led a special prayer for persons with disabilities.
Speaking as the main speaker, Rev Paul Inpui, pastor Namthan Baptist Church, said that he was happy to be there, and at the same time, felt sad and deeply touched to see many disabled persons from the district.
The pastor encouraged the people with disabilities not to give up since God has been using each person to the best of their abilities.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Senapati District Disable People's Association, Manipur (SDPAM), president L Daikho Chisiiote expressed gratitude to SKABU, MANE-DA and DSWO for organising the programme in a special way.
He also thanked all programme officials and members for attendance and helping to make the programme a grand success.
During the event, the disable persons sang a heart-touching melody "There won't be any disability or defeat in Heaven.
" International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) was also observed jointly by Achievement of Rising Maiden (ARM), District Social welfare Office, Jiribam and Zonal Education Office, Jiribam at Institute for Children with Disabilities (ICD), Lakhipur on Sunday.
The observance held under the theme 'United in Action to Rescue and Achieve the SDGs for, with and by Persons with Disabilities (PwDs)' was attended by Jiribam MLA Md Achab Uddin as chief guest, District Hospital's medical superintendent Dr Elangbam Okendro Singh as president and deputy commissioner Krishna Kumar as guest of honour.
As part of the programme, a cultural show was performed by differently abled children, while prizes of the district level Annual Sports Meet 2023 for Children with Special Needs (CWSN) and Kala Utsav 2023-24 were distributed.
Similarly, District Social Welfare Office, Thoubal in collaboration with Regional Institute of Handicapped Persons (RIHP), Yairipok and District Disabilities Rehabilitation Centre (DDRC), Thoubal observed the Day at RIHP auditorium, Yairipok Bamol Leikai on Sunday with Wangkhem MLA Keisham Meghachandra as chief guest and RIHP president retired joint director (Veterinary) Dr Maibam Rajendra as president, while district social welfare officer K Nongpoknganba Salaicha, Wangkhem Zilla Parishad nominee member Kh Sobha and Leirongthel-Ningel Gram Panchayat nominee prad-han S Kumar were present as guests of honour.
As part of the function, gifts were presented to PwDs who attended the observance and a cultural performance was showcased by students of RIHP and Programme Centre for Women Development, Thoubal.