Kohima: The government is yet to implement three per cent reservation apart from various schemes and programmes for the disabled though there are about 26,000 such people in Nagaland according to Census 2011.
This was revealed by Nagaland Parents Association for the Disabled (NAPAD) led by its president Marlong Longkumer while addressing a press conference here on Tuesday in connection with the launching of disabilities awareness campaign ‘Badhte Kadam-II’ which will be flagged off on October 25.
There is no wheelchair or lift access for the disabled in any public institutions and establishments like government offices and banks, they said and appealed to the state government to do the needful.
The NAPAD officials also revealed that Nagaland has separate institutions for the blind and deaf but not for other disabled persons.
The team further said though there were some private institutions, they would not be able to cater to all their needs as these functioned from rented houses. While lamenting that schemes such as Scout allowances and mid-day meal were yet to benefit the disabled, the team however expressed hope that with Right To Education, the prevailing scenario would improve.
Marlong said though Badhte Kadam (BK-IIII) would be a nationwide awareness campaign, BK-II will be flagged off next week in Nagaland as the campaign was launched in the state only last year. So far, the campaign was able to cover 8 districts. BK-II will cover the remaining three districts including Longleng, Mon and Kiphire.
The campaign is aimed at creating awareness on accepting the disabled as any other member of the society and facilities targeted for the disabled reaches the needy people. It will be formally flagged off by Poonam Natarajan, Chairperson of National Trust, New Delhi as the Chief Guest while Norman Putsure, Secretary, Nagaland Social Welfare Department would be the Guest of Honour. (UNI)