By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Along with the rest of the country, this year the Badhte Kadam 2012 will be celebrated in various parts of the State starting from November 3 till December 2.
Month long programmes will be organised for generating awareness and sensitising citizens about the rights of people with disability as enshrined in our constitution and as elaborated in the UN Convention on Rights of Person with Disabilities (UNCDRP).
The National Trust State Coordinator Belbora Wankhar said that the event would kick off in the State from Wahiajer in Jaintia Hills on November 3. Starting from the Jaintia Hills, the event would then proceed to the East Khasi Hills, Ri-Bhoi, Garo Hills and finally will culminate the celebration in the West Khasi Hills on December 2, Wankhar stated while addressing a press conference on Saturday.
She said that in the past three years, the event was successfully celebrated in the State. “In the previous years, we have been focusing mainly in the district headquarters. This time we are planning to hold the programme at the block level,” she said.
While informing about the main objective of organising the event, Wankhar said that Badhte Kadam (stepping ahead holding hands) is a massive awareness campaign of National Trust under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment which works in the area of autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disability. This step is to bring a fresh new perspective that would help people with disability live normal lives among others, with as much rights and responsibilities and of course with some support.
With the vision that “No disabled person is left alone and neglected in the society” and a mission to create a network of friends all over the state to achieve inclusion and community participation of people with disabilities, she added.