From the States

Genetic influence on entire village

The Dadkhai village, remote village in Doda district is located on forested hills overlooking a local river in Gandoh area of Doda district, about 230 km north-east of Jammu. It is also among one of the worst militancy infested area. And yet another calamity is slowly coming to the fore ….. a rare genetic disease that causes speech and hearing impairment. At least 72 cases have been reported from this village of 300 people.

Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr. Jasbir Singh said that the disease is perhaps being caused by the fact that speech and hearing impaired men and women tend to marry each other and pass on the genetic deficiency to their children as well.

The village falls in Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad’s  Bhadewah constituency. The minister said the government is unable to do much as health studies have found it incurable.

The Health Department has launched a campaign to educate people about this, Dr. Jasbir Singh said.

Source: Rare genetic disorder troubles J&K village The Hindustan Times, Daily, New Delhi, 9 February 2007.

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Governor advocates social responsibility

Governor Lt. General (Retd) S K Sinha reminded the society of their solemn obligation for contributing towards the welfare of physically challenged people, saying that they deserve compassion and not pity.

Donating toward the Flag Day Fund for Deaf and Dumb in observance of All India Flag Week at Raj Bhavan, the Governor said that every individual can play his part in shaping the destiny of physically impaired children.

‘With help compassion, they too can play their useful role in nation building,’ the Governor said.

The Governor was presented a memorandum by Jammu and Kashmir Samaj Kalyan Kendra listing various demands including assistance from Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board for the betterment of children studying in the school established for them. They also sought the intervention of the Governor for implementation of reservation norms for physically impaired so that they get their due share in jobs. The Samaj has established a high school for these children, the roll of which had gone up to 75. The school being, first and the only of its kind in Jammu and Kashmir, is being run by trained professionals. The management is contemplating to convert it into a residential school. For this purpose land has been acquired at Goal Gujral area of the City.

The President of the Samaj, Indrajit Khuahuria said that all donations to the Kendra are exempted from Income Tax. He hoped that the people would come forward in a big way for the generous cause. He urged philanthropists to shoulder this social responsibility by lending a helping hand to the Samaj for improving the quality of life of these under privileged children.

The Principal, Roshan Bhan said that the school had students from Banihal, Doda, Kishtawar, Rajouri and Poonch apart from Jammu.

Most of the graduates from the school have launched their own income generating units especially in arts and crafts.

Source: Physically impaired deserve compassion not pity: Governor. The Excelsior, Daily, Jammu, 8 February 2007.

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Justice for disabled UPSC candidate

The Central Information Commission has slapped a Rs 25,000 fine on the government and ordered compensation for a disabled civil service candidate, who bed been deprived of a prestigious job despite clearing his examination.

The commission also wondered if the government’s “inhuman” decision and something to do with a RTI request that Kumar Avikal Manu had filed. The penalty was imposed by the commission in a stinging order on a public information officer at the Department of Personnel and Training this week for his failure to respond to Manu’s request under the right to information law asking for the status of his appointment.

Manu had cleared the UPSC exams in 2004 but was never appointed at the first instance because of his disability. Manu moved under the RTI law last June but did not get a response.

Source: Disabled civil service candidate gets help. The Hindustan Times, Daily, New Delhi, 11 February 2006.

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Abilympics showcase ability

Come February 14, it will be a special day for people with special needs. Over 400 persons with disabilities from across the country will gather at Amar Jyoti campus to participate in the second National Abilympics to showcase their skills.

The Indian contingent for the seventh International Abilympics, to be held in Japan in November, will be selected during this 3 day competitive event. The gold medalist at the Delhi games will compete in Japan against 33 countries.

The participants will compete in 26 vocational disciplines and four leisure and livelihood skills such as embroidery and painting. Participants for the national level were selected during the zonal abilympics held in 2006.

According to Uma Tuli, former chief commissioner (disabilities) and vice president of International Abilympics Federation, “The National Abilympics Association of India (NAAI) was formed in 2001 at the behest of the Ministries for Social Justice and Empowerment and Human Resources Development, and hosting of the Abilympics in India has been coordinated by Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust”.

An estimated cost of Rs 80 lakhs would be spent in these games of which the government will contribute 75%. The rest of the money will be raised by NAAI.

Abilympics will showcase the ability and not the disability of the person. “The mission of NAAI is to integrate these people in the mainstream with dignity and equality, not with charity, added Tuli.

Source: Special games in Delhi soon. The Times of India, Daily, New Delhi, 12 February 2007.

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