Connect Ability Network-Nagaland (CAN-N) has appealed to the state government to implement the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 (RPwD Act 2016) which had come into force on April 19, 2017.
CAN-N executive director and member national committee on rights of PwDs, Diethono Nakhro said CAN-N through a representation, apprised Nagaland chief minister that as per Census 2011, there were 29,631 people with disabilities in Nagaland, 26% below 18 years.
It further said that the Nagaland Economic Survey 2016-17 tabled in the recently concluded assembly session had quoted the same 2011 figure indicating that there had been no effort to collect data on disability in the State. CAN-N underlined that the number of people with disabilities in the state would have increased considerably by now. CAN-N said the RPwD Act 2016 was much more robust statute than the 1995 Act which is focussed to protect the rights of people with disabilities and provide punishment for their violation.
People with Disabilities have remained ignored and marginalised with their rights violated by the state Government and society at large, it said, adding “this unconscionable failure cannot and must not be repeated with the RPwD Act 2016.”
CAN-N also cited the April 25 Supreme Court directive, asking all the states and Union Territories to take immediate steps to comply with the requirements of the Disability Act and file compliance reports. The court also directed that special courts be set up in each district to conduct trial of offences committed against them within three months. In this regard, CAN-N said Nagaland government must ensure that these SC directives are complied with strictly and immediately notify steps to be taken to identify and certify persons with identified disabilities.
It further demanded that the government immediately constitute the State Advisory Board on Disability as per the rules contained in the Act.
Further, CAN-N said the appropriate government and the local authorities should endeavour that all educational institutions funded or recognised by them provide inclusive education to the children with disabilities and towards that end shall- (i) admit them without discrimination and provide education and opportunities for sports and recreation activities equally with others; (ii) make building, campus and various facilities accessible; (iii) provide reasonable accommodation according to the individual’s requirements; (iv) provide necessary support individualised or otherwise in environments that maximise academic and social development consistent with the goal of full inclusion; (v) ensure that the education to persons who are blind or deaf or both is imparted in the most appropriate languages and modes and means of communication; (vi) detect specific learning disabilities in children at the earliest and take suitable pedagogical and other measures to overcome them; (vii) monitor participation, progress in terms of attainment levels and completion of education in respect of every student with disability; (viii) provide transportation facilities to the children with disabilities and also the attendant of the children with disabilities having high support needs.
Citing various sections of the Act, CAN-N urged the state government to focus on skill development and employment, social security, health, rehabilitation and recreation, special provisions for persons with benchmark disabilities particularly in education sector and employment, accessibility, to setup special court, accord state fund for persons with disabilities and to make rules to carrying out the provisions of the Act, not later than six months from the date of commencement of this Act.
In this regard, CAN-N expressed hope that the chief minister, as head of the government, would personally not permit the failure of the past to be repeated again and would ensure the full implementation of the newly enacted Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 in letter and spirit.
Leave a Reply