IMPHAL, December 18: The All Manipur Mentally Handicapped Persons Welfare Organisation (AMMHPWO), Mongsangei has appealed the government to appoint a regular commissioner at the earliest for the disabled.
Speaking to the media at a press conference at the Manipur Press Club today, AMMHPWO secretary Y Ibechoubi Devi said it was the need of the hour to appoint a commissioner for the disabled who was well aware of the problems faced by the disabled and who can deal with and take up various schemes and projects for the disabled.
The United Nations Convention on the rights for people with disabilities is not properly followed in the state. The government should take the matter seriously and form a long-term state policy for the disabled too, she said.
Y Ibechoubi further stated that the Social Welfare department should allocate a budget for the disabled.
There is only one institute for diploma in special education for mental retardation where training on how to handle retarded children is provided and a special residential centre for the mentally retarded children which is managed by AMMHPWO, she added.
Ibechoubi urged the government and the concern authorities to set up such institutes at the earliest.
She also informed the media that AMMHPWO has received the `National Award for empowerment of persons with disability`™ on the World Disability Day at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.