DISABILITY

                                                                                  

We have come a long way in recognizing rights of various groups, in this aspect Human Rights stands as a tabernacle including every ones rights but the society and the policy makers often overlook the issues regarding the Persons With Disabilities(PWD).It is hard to believe we didn’t had a National Policy for PWD  for decades since Independence! It was only in 2006 A National Policy For Disabled was announced that too only after our neighboring country Pakistan.

The Salient features of national policy are:

1. Physical Rehabilitation

2. Educational Rehabilitation

3. Economic Rehabilitation.

Rehabilitation council of India (RCI) has been set up to enforce uniform standards in training of professionals in the field of rehabilitation for the handicapped, inspection and recognition of the institutes running such courses.

Physically Handicapped, Physically Challenged, Persons with Disability to the new term Differently Abled people. All the more, children with disability should be mentioned by the term Children with Special Needs (CWSN).  These are not just different names but the sensitization towards the disability. In This Regard the print and Electronic media should be appreciated for showing great concern and projecting a sensitive out look to this problem for the society. No matter what ever be the degree of sensitization, will not bring any sense to our politicians to heed in to the problems of PWD. 

As per the Census 2001, there were a total of 21.9 million persons with disabilities in the country, out of which 10.8 million nearly 50% were reported to be literate. 6.5 million Persons with disabilities were in the age group of 5-19 years, out of which 3.3 million which is also nearly 50% persons with disabilities were attending educational institutions. The Register General of India’s decadal census data conducted neither included data on disabled persons who have never been to school nor data on children with disabilities attending schools regularly.

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) ensures that every child with Special Needs (CWSN), irrespective of the kind, category and degree of disability, is provided meaningful and quality education. Hence, SSA has adopted a zero rejection policy. This means that no child having special needs should be deprived of the right to education and they should be taught in an environment, which is best suited to his/her learning needs.

Under SSA, out of the total of 31.49 lakhs CWSN identified, 26.93 lakhs CWSN are enrolled in schools.

We should learn from our Neighboring countries in protecting and promoting the Rights of PWD.

A.H.M.Noman Khan from Bangladesh developed a Twin Strategy program COMMUNITY APPROACHES TO HANDICAP IN DEVELOPMENT (CAHD) for which he has been awarded Ramon Magsaysay the Asian Noble in 2010.

Strategy1: Strengthening the capacities of communities to serve the needs of their disabled members

Strategy 2: Mainstream disability as an integral part of development work of government and NGOs so that the disability issues would no longer be addressed in a piece meal, small scale and isolated way.

AP GOVT INITATIVEES:

Software for Assessment of Disability for Access Rehabilitation and

Empowerment (SADAREM):

All the Persons with Disabilities shall be assessed a fresh recording percentage of disability and all the existing Disability Certificates shall be replaced by reassessing the persons with disabilities by concerned District Medical Boards. So far 8.09 lakh PWDs are assessed against the target of 10.49 lakhs. UnderJansree Bheema Yojana (JBY) 47,276 were covered. 2907 Srama Shakti Sanghams are formed, exclusively for PWDs underMGNREGS. Center for Person with Disability Livelihoods (CPDL) provided 905 placements in the Public Sector as against 1434 trained.

Disability and the World:

Comparative public administration (CPA) is the apt tool for effective implementation of various publics polices to reach the targeted sections and to refine, restructure the polices to suit the local conditions. In this regard the state government has to look not only in to the policies implemented by the neighboring states but also should have glimpses on world panorama.

Australian Disability Discrimination act-1992

Pakistan- national policy for persons with disability, 2002

UK Disability plan 2010-2015

SPORTS:

The importance of sports for disabled persons is becoming increasingly recognized. The State should therefore encourage all forms of sports activities of disabled persons, inter alia, through the provision of adequate facilities and the proper organization of these activities.

COMMUNITY ACTION:

State should give high priority to the provision of information, training and financial assistance to local communities for the developmental programmes

It is important to enlist the active participation of local government bodies, agencies and community organizations, such as citizen's groups, trade unions, women's organizations, consumer organizations, service clubs, religious bodies, political parties and parents’ associations. Each community could designate an appropriate body, where organizations of disabled persons could have an influence, to serve as a focal point of communication and coordination to mobilize resources and initiate action.

EMPLOYMENT:

States should adopt a policy and supporting structure of services to ensure that disabled persons in both urban and rural areas have equal opportunities for productive and gainful employment in the open labour market. Rural employment and the development of appropriate tools and equipment should be given particular attention.

Integration of disabled children into the general educational system requires planning by all parties concerned.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING:

The education of disabled persons should as far as possible take place in the general school system. If, for some reason, the facilities of the general school system are inadequate for some disabled children, schooling for these children should then be provided for an appropriate period of time in special facilities. The quality of this special schooling should be equal to that of the general school system and closely linked to it.

The involvement of parents at all levels of the educational process is vital. Parents should be given the necessary support to provide as normal a family environment for the disabled child as is possible. Personnel should be trained to work with the parents of disabled children

“Let’s open doors and minds. Let’s throw a spotlight on richness on the people who are different bring them to the mainstream society. Let’s talk about assets instead of liability. Inclusion creates a relationship and cultural context where people can flourish”.