From the States

North Eastern states apathetic…

The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995 has been reduced to a mockery in the North Eastern States, with the governments shunning the responsibilities entrusted on them by the Act.

The Disabilities Act, provides a charter of rights to empower the disabled people and include them in the mainstream through assuring employment, education, and accessibility to road and transport, however, the Governments in the region have failed to implement the Act in its true spirit complained Sunil Mao, an activist from Arunachal Pradesh.

Mao alleged that despite the 2000 census showing the disabled population in Arunachal Pradesh to be 33315 of the total population of 11 lakh, the Government was yet to come up with a comprehensive policy for the disabled.

It needs mention that the Act clearly states the duties of the Government and local authorities in preventing disability through surveys, investigations and research on causes of disabilities and promotion of various methods of preventing disabilities. An activist from Sikkim, advocate Doma Bhutia said that the Sikkim Government had not done any survey to identify the disabled. Activists from Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram had grievances against their respective Governments for not doing much for the welfare of the disabled as envisaged by the Act.

The disabled individuals on the other hand complained of discrimination at work place like denial of promotions. The Act however says that a disabled persons working in any Government establishment cannot be denied promotion merely on the ground of the disability.

The meet was unanimous that every State should appoint a full time Commissioner for implementing the provisions of the Act. It was also observed that the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities should be taken into consideration by the Governments while dealing with the Act.

The meet was organized by the Disability Law Unit of Sishu Sarothi, under the aegis of Light of the World.

Source: Goverment apathy still a bane for disabled. Assam Tribune, Daily, Guwahati, 29 January 2007.

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Custom made cars!

A motor mechanic in Rajkot’s Gondal area has developed a special car, which can be driven by individuals of short height or physical disabilities. The main attraction is its elevating system. This lifts the driver from outside and makes him/her sit on the seat.

Made of scrap, the petrol-run special car is 4.6 feet high and gives a mileage of 25 kilometers per litre. It can touch a maximum speed of 35-kilometres per hour. And, the pushbutton car costs a mere rupees 16,000.

Designed to suit a disabled persons or midget’s needs, the handle of the car has been made half round. Even the foot brakes and levers remains in the control of the driver’s hands.

Rameshbhai Mohanbhai Patel, the Gondal-based motor mechanic, designed this special car on the request of Mehaboob Usman, a physically challenged midget, who was facing difficulties in commuting. Twenty-seven-year old Mehaboob Usmaan stands 2.7 feet tall and is also physically disabled. He had long nurtured a dream to drive a car.

Today, his car is the talk of the town, as it special features fascinate onlookers’ attention.

His brothers, earlier presented Mehboob, with a special scooter but he found it unsafe. He found it difficult to reach the family-run grocery shop.

Mehboob, then approached the motor mechanic Ramashbhai to design a vehicle which would cater to his special needs.

“It took me one and a half months and 16,000 rupees to make this car. I have installed a scooty’s engine and a hydraulic lift for him. He has to just sit on the platform and press a button and he will be taken up to the seat,” says Rameshbhai Patel, the motor mechanic.

Source: Special car for physically disabled and midgets. Political & Business, Daily, New Delhi, 3 February 2007.

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Call for simplification in disability certificates and pensions

Getting pension and obtaining a disability certificate is still an uphill task for the physically challenged, especially in rural areas.

The fact became known during the sixth meeting of the State Commissioners for Persons with Disabilities in early February, 2007.

Grievances related to the failure of the Government Departments to release disability certificates and incentive money, formed 45 per cent of all complaints received by mobile courts of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (CCPD).

Despite reservations and various incentives, getting employment is also not easy for a disabled person. Employment related complaints were 19 per cent and those of harassment 4 per cent of the total complaints received by the mobile courts, CCPD       Dr. Manoj Kumar said in the meeting presided over by Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Meira Kumar.

In urban areas, most of the complaints (38 per cent) filed with mobile courts related to employment, followed by those relating to service conditions (15 per cent) and harassment (eight per cent).

Pension and certificate related complaints amounted for six per cent of the total.

The CCPD also said that Rs 173 crore given for the disabled under the government poverty alleviation schemes of SGSY and SGRY could not be utilized in 2005, clearly showing means that the utilization of the fund was less than one per cent.

He said there was need for effective monitoring of all central and state government schemes.

Minister Meira Kumar in her remarks acknowledged the fact that disabled people were facing a lot of difficulties in getting disability certificates and pension and said the process of identification and release of certificate needs simplification to the extent that all the formalities were completed in a specified time period.

She said a committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of the Additional Secretary of the Ministry to formulate a strategy and suggest procedures and guidelines which can be followed by all the states.

Source: Pension remains elusive to many a disabled. National Herald, Daily, New Delhi, 3 February 2007.

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