Workshop on disability laws and rights aims to sensitize people at the grass-root level

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IMPHAL, October 13: A community workshop on Disability Laws and Rights of persons with disabilities was held at the headquarters of Senapati district, jointly organized by the Disability Law Unit-NE, Shishu Sarothi, Centre for Rahabilitation and Training for Multiple Disability, an NGO based in Guwahati, in association with Manipur North Economic Development Association (MANEDA), the disability-NGO of the district.

The workshop was organized with a view to sensitize people at the grass root level about the provisions of law and schemes available for persons with disabilities and the workshop saw enthusiastic participation of disabled persons organizations, disability activist and pastors from in and around the district.

Speaking during the workshop, Peter Rangnamei, secretary, MANEDA, stated that the participation of pastors can play a significant role in spreading awareness on the disability law for they had a far following and could effectively share the knowledge amongst their parishioners to further the cause of persons with disabilities.

While highlighting that the main disability legislations in the country are the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, the National trust Act, 1999, Mental health Act, 1987 and the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992, Aparna Ajitsaria and Amvalika Senapati of DLU-NE, stressed on the need to have an approach based on the rights of a person rather than a welfare approach, more so in view of India’s ratification of the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities in 2007.

The interactive discussions highlighted the problems faced by PwDs in Senapati district due to the apathy of the administration, viz, non-issuance of PwD certificate, non-consideration of PwDs in various welfare schemes, like Indra Awaz Yojana, lack of rehabilitation centres and trained manpower etc.

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