News Kashmir Exclusive
Global Day of Persons with Disabilities (December 3) is an international observance promoted by the United Nations since 1992. It has been celebrated with varying degrees of success around the world . The observance of the Day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. It was originally called “International Day of Disabled Persons” until 2007. Each year the day focuses on a diverse issue related to the Specially-abled humans.
According to rough estimates there are about 4.5 lakh specially-abled persons in Jammu and Kashmir. According to activist and opinions expressed by specially- abled in the state they suffer a lot due to government apathy .Specially- abled humans are facing a large number of problems as there are very few facilities for them and thus their families are suffering every sort of trouble.
Sameer Ahmad, an specially – abled person states – “It is quiet heartbreaking to point out that the overall condition of specially-abled persons and other handicaps is quiet troublesome in our state. Successive governments have failed us so the state Government especially the state social welfare department should wake up and gear up its efforts to improve the conditioning with reference to it . We also need a comprehensive proposal and roadmap formulated by the State Government and supported by the Government of India for securing necessary funding for undertaking a survey of all physically challenged persons in the State so that targeted intervention programmes could be planned and implemented and we also should have at authority level the concern about sensitivities of Specially abled persons taken into consideration while developing infrastructure . Our buildings especially the many government institutes lag the infrastructure that can cater to the needs of the specially- abled persons especially like building friendly ramps.”
On the otherhand of the spectrum, the association of specially-abled have also stated that they be provided the financial assistance that is upto the mark with the needs of time and relaxation should be granted when it comes to recruitment or promotion. Activists and associations also demand that specially-abled in Government service may kindly be posted under five kilometer parameters and while granting ration cards, instead the income of the family, the income of the Disabled persons should be taken into consideration.
In nutshell, we need to go a long way in proving the best atmosphere to persons with disabilities .
