TURA: Mahendraganj MLA and Chairman of the Meghalaya State Resource Mobilisation and Employment Generation Council (MSRMEGC), Dikkanchi D Shira on Tuesday handed over a cheque of Rs 1 lakh to the father of Klingson Marak, a visually impaired footballer, during the celebration of International Day for persons with disabilities at Ampati. She handed the cheque on behalf of the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs in the presence of South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Cyril V D Diengdoh and other district officials.
Klingson Marak, a resident of Rongsepgre village under Zizak C&RD Block in South West Garo Hills is a visually impaired athlete selected to represent the country in the upcoming football world cup for the blind. He is presently undergoing training at Kerala.
During the celebration, Shira distributed MUDRA loan cheques to two other persons with disabilities (PWDs) skilled in cane and bamboo crafts. Shira accompanied by the Deputy Commissioner and Block Development Officer also distributed aids and appliances comprising of foldable wheel chairs, walking sticks, elbow crutches and hearing aids to PWDs during the celebration.
Speaking at the celebration, Shira said that the day was being celebrated to acknowledge the rights and talents of the differently abled. Every person no matter what the disability has the right to equal opportunities and it is the duty of the parents and the community as a whole to safeguard their rights and to provide for them, she added.
Emphasizing on the need for more NGOs in the district dedicated to the welfare of the differently abled, Shira said that the PWDs needed hand held support. Informing that the government has launched initiatives to ensure equal rights and opportunities for the differently abled she urged the gathering to see past the disabilities and acknowledge their talents.
Citing the example of Sir Stephen Hawking, a famous physicist who was diagnosed with ALS, a form of Motor Neurone Disease and bound to a wheelchair, Shira said that he continued his research into theoretical physics although he was dependent on a computerized voice system.
South West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, Cyril Darlong Diengdoh said that it is the mandate of the district administration to provide equal opportunities to the differently abled. He emphasized on hassle free availability of basic amenities for the differently abled in government offices and said that filling up of forms and necessary documents in government establishments should be made PWD friendly.
Speaking on the need for more Self Help Groups (SHGs) dedicated to look out for the welfare of the differently abled the Deputy Commissioner urged the Mahendraganj MLA to motivate the people to form PWD centered SHGs. ‘’A lot more has to be done to provide greater opportunities to our friends with disabilities and a comprehensive district level policy on disability should be drafted’’ he said.
The Deputy Commissioner felt that a district level committee on disability should take upon its hands to formulate a comprehensive policy on disability and draft it before the next celebration of international day for persons with disabilities.
During the programme Jonsing B Marak, a visually impaired urged the government to establish a Braille printing press amongst others during his brief address.
As part of the celebration, sports for the differently abled was held at Ampati students’ field in the morning, followed by a rally to and fro Ampati market and back to the venue by the differently abled accompanied by parents, students, and district officials. Later, Prizes and mementoes were distributed to winners of the sports by MRMEGC Chairman Dikkanchi D Shira.