International Day of Persons with Disabilities observed across Meghalaya
SHILLONG/NONGPOH/MAWKYRWAT/TURA, Dec 3: The International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) was commemorated with an event at the U Soso Tham Auditorium here on Tuesday, under the theme, “Amplifying the Leadership of Persons with Disabilities for an Inclusive and Sustainable Future.”
Titled EmpowerFest 2.0, the programme brought together stakeholders from across Meghalaya and featured key initiatives to promote inclusivity. A significant highlight was the distribution of adaptive chairs for children with cerebral palsy. These chairs, designed to meet the specific needs of the children, were crafted by carpenters from across the state who also live with disabilities.
The chairs were handed over to 13 children by the chief guest, Governor CH Vijayashankar, and the Minister for Social Welfare, Paul Lyngdoh. The initiative was a collaborative effort involving the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, the Meghalaya Skill Development Society, and the State Resource Centre on Disability Affairs.
The event also witnessed the launch of Meghalaya Sign-Lex — a platform developed to address communication gaps for the hearing- and speech-impaired community. This lexicon builds on the existing Meghalaya Sign Bank app, introduced in 2019 to document sign language commonly used in the state.
Meghalaya Sign-Lex aims to enhance the documentation of sign language and expand its reach. It enables users — including linguists, educators, and researchers — to register, contribute, and upload videos of sign language gestures. Features include translation tools, a searchable dictionary, and data categorization by region, language, and context. The platform also integrates crowd-sourced contributions to capture regional dialects, promoting linguistic diversity and inclusion.
The platform serves as a cooperative tool to strengthen resources for Meghalaya’s sign language community and provides data to the Meghalaya Sign Bank app through an integrated API.
Adding to the day’s events was a performance by Eastern Brook, a band comprising members who are differently-abled. The band presented the Meghalaya Disability Anthem, which was launched during the event.
The music was composed by the band, whose members are Wanlamphrang Nongkhalw, Waikibor Snaitang, Nangkiew Artetvrina, Hamjngai Sungoh, and Prakash D Shira.
The lyrics were penned by Josiah Lyngwa and translated into Khasi by Lunsgsing Kharbuli, into Pnar by Omarlin Khyndiah, and into Garo by Prakash D Shira. Governor Vijayashankar interacted with the band, commending their efforts and talent.
Prominent attendees included Chairperson of the Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW), Iamonlang Syiem, Secretary of Bethany Society, Carmo Noronha, and Commissioner and Secretary to the Social Welfare Department, Pravin Bakshi, among others.
In Nongpoh, Ri-Bhoi, a free medical check-up for PwDs, games, and sports were some of the highlights of the day. A programme was organised at Patharkhmah Government Higher Secondary School to commemorate the occasion.
Organised by the Office of the District Social Welfare Officer, Ri-Bhoi, in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority, the programme saw Jirang MLA Sosthenes Sohtun as the chief guest, alongside other dignitaries. At the end of the event, prizes were distributed among the winners of various games.
In Mawkyrwat, the Office of the District Social Welfare Officer, South West Khasi Hills, joined hands with the District Sankalp Hub for Empowerment of Women and the District Legal Service Authority to observe the occasion through a programme held at the Nativity Auditorium, Mawkyrwat.
The programme was attended by Chief Legal Aid Defense Counsel, DLSA, Mawkyrwat, N Hahshah, District Social Welfare Officer of South West Khasi Hills, E Tariang, and other officials.
In South West Garo Hills, the Dobol Lake English School under Rerapara C&RD Block hosted the observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, which saw over 180 PwDs from across the district in attendance. The programme was organised in association with the Office of the District Social Welfare Officer (DSWO), Ampati.
Senior Medical and Health Officer in charge of Melim PHC, Dr Norimchi R Marak, served as the chief guest. Dr Marak emphasised the importance of personal hygiene for good health and encouraged participants to maintain cleanliness for overall well-being.
Legal-cum-Probation Officer, DCPU, Ampati, Tanya Derimchi Ch. Marak, spoke about the rights of PwDs, highlighting that they comprise 16% of the global population and 2.2% of India’s population.
Salen Marak, a participant and a PwD, shared his personal experiences, particularly the challenges faced while seeking employment. He highlighted the 4% job reservation for PwDs and requested officials to address their concerns and improve access to facilities.
Case worker from the One Stop Centre, Ampati, Begimme G. Sangma, drew attention to the issue of sexual harassment faced by PwDs and the need for their protection and empowerment.
The programme also included games and sports activities for PwDs, with prizes distributed to winners. All participants received gifts as tokens of love and care, and free health screenings were conducted during the event.