IMPHAL, November 14: Badhte Kadam, the National Discoverability Campaign was inaugurated today in a function held at GM Hall, Imphal.
The campaign will be held from November 14 to December 3, 2011 in seven districts of the state.
Speaking at the inaugural function, secretary general of Spastic Society of Manipur, Laishram Tokendro stated that Badhte Kadam (stepping ahead holding hands) is a massive awareness campaign of National Trust under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment which works in the area of autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disability to bring a fresh new perspective that would help people with disability live as one among people, with as much rights and responsibilities of course with some support. The caravan of Badhte Kadam wants to draw the attention of people with disabilities and their rights as stated in the United Nation Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), he noted.
Spastic Society of Manipur had organized the Badhte Kadam 2 in November 2010, with support from the state government and Assam Rifles and had bagged the Best State Award for the Best Campaign 2010 due to its professional and innovative approach.
With the vision that “No disabled person is left alone and neglected in the society” and a mission to create a network of friends all over the state to achieve inclusion and community participation of persons with disabilities, the Badhte kadam team will visit schools and colleges in seven districts and conduct awareness programmes with games, quiz show, talent show, poster and photo exhibition, Tokendro stated.
The Spastic Society of Manipur also launched MARUP which is a network of non disabled persons who volunteer to be friends of the disabled persons in the community and contribute some time and energy whenever possible to be with them, entertain them, share experiences with them, aid them in activities of daily living .livelihoods, advocate and provide non formal educational activities and physical support to the disabled persons and the family members in whatever capacity they can voluntarily without desire of personal financial gains.
The inaugural function was also attended by Ashok Kumar, Imphal West DC and Dr AK Jhalajit, Imphal West Additional SP.