SHILLONG: International Day for Persons with Disabilities shall have an additional reason for joyous celebration as a day where the differently-abled from all walks of life shall assemble together in Tura to celebrate the day, receive awareness about the rights and issues of the physically challenged and gather information about the schemes and programmes conceptualized by the government for their welfare and empowerment.
The theme for this year’s Badhte Kadam is “how to create a barrier free environment for the disabled”.
On Tuesday, the National Trust for Persons with Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities in collaboration with the district administration and office of the District Social Welfare Officer, West Garo Hills shall be organizing the Badhte Kadam – V programme in Tura as a signature event and campaign celebrated all over the country to create awareness about the rights of the differently-abled , discuss schemes of the National Trust under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and with the vision to build the confidence of the persons with disabilities .
Badhte Kadam – V (meaning ‘forward steps’) supported and guided by the Meghalaya Parents Association for the Disabled is in its fifth year of awareness dissemination about the rights and concerns, issues of employment and rehabilitation and employment of the persons with disabilities and shall coincide with the celebrations and observation of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities .
A very significant programme of the mega event would be distribution of cheques to the differently abled from the Chief Minister’s Social Assistance Programme for the Widows, Infirms and Disabled which after selection of eligible beneficiaries offers a monthly assistance of Rs. 500 to each beneficiary .
Apart from this there shall be a colourful programme in the inaugural of the celebration with drama , songs , skits and performances from differently abled children .
Hundreds of participants shall reach Law College Field , Tura from all the eight C&RD Blocks of Tikrikilla , Dadenggre , Gambegre , Zikzak , Betasing , Rongram , Dalu and Selsella transported by TPTS buses specially arranged for this purpose .
There will be an impromptu rally from the field to Montfort Centre for Education , Danakgre , Tura which is the only school offering inclusive education mainstreaming the differently-abled children with the other kids .Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan which has special components for differently abled children , their identification , education and mainstreaming shall also organize a parental training for the parents of the physically challenged children as awareness and confidence building of the children with special needs at home which is crucial for the holistic development of the children.
On the sidelines of the function, there will be stalls put up by various social organizations and stakeholders like Bethany Society which has always played a leading role on the issues of disability and its detection , employability and self reliance of the disabled , District Employment Officer to ensure registration of the disabled to ensure 3% reservation in job employment in all government jobs , Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan & NRHM stalls showcasing the government’s efforts on how the state government and departments have taken steps to integrate the disabled , hold disability camps and issue disability certificates for them which is a precursor to them finding jobs .
Already the state government has circulated several notifications that the reservation of 3% for the persons with disabilities has to be rigidly and scrupulously adhered to. As per directions and guidelines from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the profiling of jobs meant or suitable for the differently abled has also been done and circulated to all .
Zenith M Sangma , Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs & Housing will be the chief guest of the grand programme and Noverfield R Marak Parliamentary Secretary to, Urban Affairs and PHE will be the guest of honour.
