SHILLONG: Along with the rest of the country, World Disability Day was observed on Monday on the theme “Removing Barriers to Create an Inclusive and Accessible for all”. This day was celebrated by different organisations of the state who aimed at bridging the gap prevailing amongst the differently abled people and the general lot.
Organised by the District social welfare department in collaboration with the Sarva Shiksha Abiyan (SSA) district mission, Civil Hospital and Sanker, World Disability Day witnessed the participation of hundreds of people with disabilities (PWDs).
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest, Education Secretary Fredrick Roy Kharkongor, dwelt on the need to shun discriminating against the differently abled people and start living as one. As part of the celebration, wheel chairs were distributed to the physically challenged as an aid to lessen their efforts in the sphere they required most. Cultural songs and dances were also performed during the function.
In a similar occasion, the World Disability Day was also observed by the Bethany Society at Mawkyrwat which was attended by hundreds of people with disabilities (PWDs) from the South West Khasi Hills District.
Delivering his speech as the chief guest, President of Lynti Jingkyrmen School-Mawkyrwat, Hadrian Lyngdoh, rued over the inability of the state government to implement the People With Disabilities (PWD) Act, 1995, which provides 3 percent job reservation to the PWDs.
Further, Lyngdoh also said that one cannot say that a person is mentally challenged, because when looked carefully, there are so many things that they can do.
Meanwhile, Coordinator of Bethany Society, Mawkyrwat, Wellbok Lyngdoh, expressed his disappointment over the discrimination which is prevalent in the district towards the people with disabilities.
“This discrimination shown towards the PWDs is one of the main issues which the Association of Challenge People (ACP) at Mawkyrwat should look into”, he said. The function was also attended by the Nativity Convent-Mawkyrwat Sr. Veronica besides others.
In another occasion, Association of Challenged People of Meghalaya also observed World Disability Day, while stating that the day is not a day of just singing and dancing but it is a day of action and taking responsibility.
Member of the association, Serene Lawai a locomotive disabled person, said that the government should involve people with disability in their decision making process concerning the issues people with disability.
Meanwhile, president of the Association M Sangma, who is visually impaired, mentioned that the government should make provisions for people with different disabilities in its offices, like building ramps for locomotive disabled persons and the use of sign language for the hearing impaired persons.
“There are hardly any provisions made for people like us in the field of employment, education or even social life by the government.” she said.
They also highlighted on the need to provide education to the people with disability. However, there are very few teachers who are trained to teach the hearing, visually or intellectually impaired children in the state.
World Disabled Day was also celebrated at Tura on Monday, with an elaborate function organised at the Deputy Commissioner’s park by the Social Welfare department in collaboration with the Bethany Society, SSA and the District Sports Officer. Retired Colonel and Bethany Society Administrator T Donald graced the occasion as the Chief Guest while best Teacher awardee (2001) Neveula M Sangma attended the function as the Guest of Honor.
Addressing the gathering T Donald that the day called not only for celebration but to take stock of the situation. Emphasizing on the need to better understand the difficulties faced by differently abled Donald said that the rights of the differently abled should be made known to all so as to ensure they are protected.
Neveula M Sangma expressed her happiness for the day being celebrated worldwide, meant that even though she was confined to a wheel chair, disability did not deter her from pursuing her passion for teaching.