SHILLONG: The State Government’s inability to come up with statistics on the actual number of People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in the State is the main reason for its failure to address various issues concerning the PWDs.
“Till date, the State Government is yet to come with proper statistic to depict the actual disabled population living in the different parts of the State,” Celine Lawai, general secretary, Association for Challenged People Meghalaya said while addressing newsmen here on Wednesday.
According to Lawai, as per the 2011 census, there are only 40,417 people in the State living with different disabilities.
She, however, said that the Association cannot rely on the government statistics since people who are entrusted the task of compiling the data were not adequately trained.
“We understand that a huge chunk of PWDs in the State, especially in the rural areas, have been left uncounted when this statistics was prepared,” she said.
Lawai observed that the inability of the government to have detailed statistics when it comes to this section of the people have posed undesirable impact on their lives since their issues are not being addressed in the right perspective.
Admitting that the Government has been pro-active with regards to the cause of the PWDs, she, however, lamented that implementation of different schemes meant for the PWDs progress at a slow pace due to ‘red tape’.
Lawai demanded that the State Government should establish and implement standards for communities that will ensure universal access and barrier free environment for PWDs.
The call to the government was made on the occasion of observance of the ‘World White Cane Day’. Highlighting the objective of the occasion, ACPM president Gabriel Nongrum said, “The White Cane Day is to grant the visually-impaired person that extra care for their physical safety, self confidence and sense of security.”
“The white cane is a universal symbol of access to the world for the visually impaired and partially sighted people,” he added.
Gabriel, who is himself visually impaired, said, “Using the white cane does not mean we are seeking sympathy; we are only seeking simple courtesy and help from those who are privileged to have been born with the sense of sight.”
The Association for Challenged People, Meghalaya, on the occasion of World White Cane Day, urged the State Government to establish and implement standards for communities that will ensure universal access for all persons with disabilities.
“In this way, our environment can enable safe and independent travel for everyone including those who are blind,” president of the Association, Gabriel Nongrum, said.
It may be mentioned that White Cane Safety Day is observed around the world, celebrated on October 15 each year since 1964. The date is set aside to celebrate the achievements of people who are blind or visually impaired and the important symbol of blindness and tool of independence, the ‘White Cane’.