From the States

NEDFi supports the cause of the disabled

World Disability Day was celebrated everywhere on December 3 but in Guwahati it got extended by a few more days, courtesy North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi).

NEDFi made its exhibition complex NEDFi Haat in the city available free of cost to NGOs working for the handicapped people for the sale and exhibition of their products from December 4 to 6.

“It was a rare gesture to support the cause of the handicapped people,” stated Suchismita Mazumdar, director of Swamalambi, an NGO working for the rehabilitation of handicapped persons, a press release said.

As many as twelve NGOs under the banner of the umbrella organization Pragati participated in the exhibition-cum-sale progamme.

Spokesperson of Pragati, Kaushik Das stated that the programme was successful in creating awareness in public about the productive skills of the handicapped persons. He further added that there is a need for a permanent outlet for selling their products throughout the year, “We look forward to a helping hand from corporates to make it possible.”

Different NGOs such as the Assam Autism Foundation, Sahayika, Shishu Sarathi, Mon Vikash Kendra, Ashadep, Swabalmdai, Atma Nirbhar etc. participated in the event and the Government of India also extended its support to the cause.

Products displayed the exhibition included wide range of handloom, paintings, embroidery, paper bags, colorful candles, pickles etc.

Source: NEDFi lends helping hand to physically handicapped persons. The Sentinel, Daily, Guwahati, 10 December 2006.

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A neglected lot!

World Disability Day was observed across the country by organizing seminars, cultural functions and holding rallies. Most of the functions, however, concluded with the politicians of varied hues, including cabinet ministers mouthing only platitudes.

Besides administrating heavy dose of assurances, these functions hardly served any purpose for the population afflicted with disabilities of varied kinds and degree. These is paradoxical to note that despite having  a population of four lakh disabled, the Jammu and Kashmir government does not have any special  schools and other basic facilities in place for such a large chunk of its populace. This sorry state of affairs is that in spite of the fact that the Social Welfare Department claims to have many schemes for the disabled. Even sixty years after independence, the state has failed to formulate a comprehensive plan for the employment of this, so far a neglected lot.

Whereas there exist, many welfare schemes for the physically challenged people in other states of the country, in J&K this lot always has a raw deal from the successive governments, which besides assurances have done nothing in concrete for them. Efforts are underway in other states to protect the legal rights of the disabled; similarly, most of the states have a barrier free mechanism in place for them. Not only this, suitable jobs are identified for persons with varied degrees of disability elsewhere in the country, but in J&K this perhaps has never been the concern of any state governments.

No doubt, the Act for the Disabled in the state has major lacunae in its implementation process. The government assumes that by constructing ramps at few places means the accomplishment of its duties towards this lot. In fact, even this concept of ramps was simply missing in the state in the past and a beginning has been made in this connection very recently. However, so far this realization, has dawned upon a very few institutions, government and private department.

But only ramps won’t make any difference as far as the plight of the disabled is concerned. The need of the hour is an ingenious plan in place aiming at ameliorating the condition of the neglected lot. For that, the politicians will have to walk their talk as just mouthing platitudes does not serve any purpose.

Source: Disabled by ritual. Kashmir Times, Daily, Jammu, 5 December 2006.

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Governor assures well-being of the disabled

Governor Lt. Gen. (Retd.) S.K. Sinha called on December 4 for a collective effort to improve the quality of life of the physically impaired segments of the society, enabling them to contribute in nation building.

The Government and the Non Governmental Organizations should work in tandem towards this objective and help physically challenged people to stand on their own legs, the Governor said at a function held in observance of World Disabled Day.

He said that such sections of the people are not a liability on the society but, in fact, it is bounded duty of the latter to see to their welfare and well-being. He called for massive awareness among them about various schemes tailored for their welfare by the Government and hoped that assistance under these will be made available to them without hassles. He said that the executing agencies have to work with a missionary zeal to translate these schemes and projects into reality. ‘I would like to monitor the status of work done on various welfare departments after six months,’ he added.

The Governor assured the Jammu Chapter of National Federation of Blind of the possible help and assistance from Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board after examining the project details.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary, Social Welfare, N.K. Verma gave a resume of measures being taken for physically challenged people. He said schemes have been devised to have schools for these sections of the society at Srinagar and Jammu in the first instance, which will be extended to district headquarters in the second phase.

Mr Verma said that two buses each would be pressed into service for barrier-free movement in the capital cities for physically challenged on concessional rates. The government transport is already providing 50 per cent concession in fair while the private transporters have also assured to extend this concession on long routes for them.

The Secretary said that soft loans on four per cent interest are available on different schemes for these sections of the society at Women Development Corporation and SC/ST Corporation.

The Jammu Chapter of the Federation presented a memorandum to the Governor. He also inspected the progress on the work of Blind School in Roop Nagar.

Noted Singer, Kailash Mehra presented a cheque of Rs. 5000 to the Federation donated by an NRI in USA. She offered her assistance in teaching music to the students of Blind School, if required.

The students of the school presented a variety programme on the occasion. Senior officers of the Social Welfare Department and a large number of people were present during the function.

Source: Governor asks Govt, NGOs to work in tandem for physically challenged. The Excelsior, Daily, Jammu, 4 December 2006.

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NGO provides succor to the blind

An NGO, run by some ex-students of the Narendrapur Blind Boys Academy of the Ramakrishna Mission, is contemplating to start of a Medical Transcription course for visually handicapped youths, at Sheoraphuli in Hooghly.

An NRI has already given his permission to set up the centre in this house at Sheoraphuli. The course is expected to commence by June 2007. Visually handicapped students will be prepared for medical transcription with the help of the software JAWS. Blind students can hear what they are typing on the computer with this Microsoft built software.

A hostel for the blind persons, who have come to Kolkata for either studying or a job but are not wealthy enough to afford living cost in the city, will be also set up in the house at Seoraphuli.

Source: NGO provides succor to the blind. The Statesman, Daily, Kolkata, 10 December 2006.

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AWWA on disability

To mark the World Disability Day, a sensitization campaign for station officers, PBOR and their families was organized at the Surya Auditorium in Lucknow Cantonment. The programme began with a welcome address by Veena Mishra followed by a dance by the differently abled children of Asha School.

This school for special children was established as the family health centre of AMC Centre and since 1992 was affiliated with the Army Wives, Welfare Association (AWWA), Centre Command, and hence named “AWWA Asha Special Care Children Centre”.

Renu Thakur spoke at length about various welfare measures being undertaken by Asha School including assessment of disability of the admitted children, ways to improve their physical efficiency, education and rehabilitation communication and social skills development and most important, vocational training and employment to help the children become self reliant. 

Carrying forward the discussion, Colonel Mukti Sharma of Command Hospital spoke about mental and physical disabilities while Akhlendra Yadav threw light on the efforts being undertaken to enhance the welfare activities of the physically challenged. 

The panel discussion concluded with Mridu Goel of Handi Care India, speaking about the societal attitude associated with the disabled and ways to sensitize the public and help change their mindset and disposition towards the disabled.

Source: Cantt Watch. The Pioneer, Daily, Lucknow, 6 December 2006.

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Disabled children in eco activities

Young hands dipped into one of the country’s holiest rivers but this was no religious ceremony. This was Shramdaan performed by as many as 2,400 children, some physically and mentally challenged, who had gathered at the banks of Kudesia Ghat on the Yamuna to collect all the garbage and junk dumped by uncaring citizens.

About 160 eco-clubs of schools run by the government, public sector and special schools took part in the ‘Clean Yamuna Programme’ on Tuesday. This three-year old programme, under the ‘Society for Child Development’ in a campaign supported by the National Green Corps of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, seeks to not only stop the river from being further polluted, but also breathe new life into one of the country’s holiest yet most polluted rivers.

Flowers dumped into the river by devotees were picked by the children to be recycled into eco-friendly colors for Holi and other products.

The bank of the Yamuna reverberated with the sound of powerful young voices as Jigri an exclusive musical band sang songs of social change and a new dawn.

Eco-Tarang  (early called Jal Tarang), the national newspaper of the eco-clubs was also released on Tuesday. Speaking to HT next, Madhumita Puri Executive Director of the Society for Child Development said that Eco-Tarang will be distributed to more that 92,000 schools across the country.

To contribute to the magazine, send your letter and articles by email to ecotarang@gmail.com.

Source: With a song on their lips, kids go cleaning Yamuna. Hindustan Times NEXT, New Delhi, 6 December 2006.

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