KOHIMA, July 30: According to Nagaland’s 2001 census, there are 26,499 people with disability in the State. This includes 9,968 people with visual disability, 4,398 people with speech disability, 5,245 people with hearing disability, 4258 people with locomotor disability and 2,630 people with mental disability. Despite the high number of people living with different kinds of disabilities in the State, very few have been physically identified. Most disabled people continue to live in seclusion.
A meeting was held in Dimapur recently to discuss issues relating to disability in Nagaland. Organized by the Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), Nagaland unit, and assisted by Prodigals’ Home, the meeting focused on laws, rights and privileges of disabled persons. The meeting raised some very serious issues pertaining to Nagaland, where disabled persons still live in deprivation; unaware of fundamental rights and the extent of the government’s role in providing these rights to disabled persons.
In a presentation on the current status of disability in Nagaland, K Ela, Director of Prodigals’ Home, pointed out that not much importance has been given to the issue of disability. Ela said that there are very little benefits for disabled people and the state does not have an independent Disability Commissioner- like it exists in all other States. She added that the government has not paid much importance in implementing the United National Convention on Rights of persons with Disabilities.
The government has not been able to identify the exact number of disabled persons in the State either. For this very reason, Ela said that NGOs are working closely with the department of Census to bring out the correct number of people with disability in the State.
Apart from Kohima and Dimapur, very few non-government organizations have taken up the issue of disability, Ela lamented further. She said that of the 871 disabled persons identified by five NGOs in Dimapur district, not a single person is employed with the government or other private establishment. Ela said this is a serious lapse and must be addressed. “If the condition is like this in Dimapur…the picture is clear in the other districts,” she said. Ela highlighted the need for the government to implement the 3 per cent reservation for disabled persons in poverty alleviation schemes.
Ela further added that on feedbacks received from the few disabled persons supplied with aid, most complained that the equipment of inferior quality. The Centre has provided grants for procurement of equipment and aids for 2009-10 (Rs 4 lakh for each district and Rs 9 lakh for Tuensang district).
But it is not known how the money is being utilised. The disability issue is also faced with the issue of stigma and discrimination.
There is little awareness and only parents’ whose children are disabled are open about speaking on the issue, Ela said.
She called for wider participation of the society and the government in spreading awareness on the issue. The meeting was attended by members of different NGOs from across the State working with disabled persons and HRLN. (Agencies)