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| Another outfall of turmoil in state – increase in disabled numbers | | | Early Times Reporter
Srinagar | Apr 19
If minister for finance, housing and urban development Tariq Hameed Karra is to be believed, the turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir state has, besides other things, also resulted into increase of the number of disabled in the state.
Speaking at the inaugural function of a rehabilitation camp organized by the Voluntary Medicare Society for the hearing-disabled at Bemina today, Mr Karra said due to the turmoil the number of disabled, both physical and mental, has increased manifold in the State and there are an estimated 3 lakh disabled persons in Jammu & Kashmir. He said or the protection of the rights of the disabled persons, the State Government has already enacted a law under "Jammu & Kashmir Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1998. He said in addition to the legal framework extensive infrastructure has been developed in the State for the welfare of the persons with disabilities including setting up of a composite Rehabilitation Center. He said in 2003 the State Government had hiked the monthly pension of the disabled persons from Rs 150 to Rs 200 and it was proposed to be taken to Rs 500 in a phased manner.
Referring to the national scenario, Karra said there are around 70 million disabled persons in the country and in 2006 the Government of India announced a National Policy for the persons with Disability. He said the National Policy recognizes that Persons with Disabilities are valuable human resource for the country and seeks to create an environment that provides them equal opportunities, protection of their rights and full participation in society. He said India is also a signatory to the Declaration on the Full Participation and Equality of People with Disabilities in the Asia Pacific Region and is currently participating in the negotiations on the UN Convention on Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of Persons with Disabilities. He said the National Handicapped and Finance Development Corporation (NHFDC) has been providing loans on concessional terms for undertaking self-employment ventures by the persons with disabilities through State Governments and the Panchayati Raj institutions at Village level, Intermediary level and District level have been entrusted with the welfare of persons with disabilities.
Karra said presently seven national institutes are working for development of manpower in different areas or the disabled. He said there are five Composite Rehabilitation Centres, four Regional Rehabilitation Centres and 120 District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRCs) providing various kinds of rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities. Besides, 250 private institutions conduct training courses for rehabilitation professionals, he said.
Karra said in 1992 the UN publicized the "Standard Rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for People with Disabilities" which were not mandatory, but were taken by a number of governments to shape their national disability policies. He said in a unique international effort, the UN is now working on a Comprehensive Convention for the Rights of Disabled People. He said the disability movement identified human rights and inclusion as major issues in the fight for equal rights and participation of disabled people. He said international human rights treaties are needed to set a global framework and direction for the equal rights of disabled people worldwide.
Karra said on the 3rd December 1992, the UN General Assembly decided on the World Program of Action for Disabled People. He said the United Nations committed itself and its members to promote the full participation of disabled people in social life and development as well as prevention and rehabilitation measures. He said 16 years on, many problems of the disabled are still unresolved. "Disabled people are not yet fully considered within international development issues. They are still excluded from society in many countries of the world. Even where effective disability legislation is in place, the implementation lacks ideas and is hindered by negative attitudes towards disabled people," he said.
Karra lauded the efforts o the Voluntary Medicare Society in providing succor to the disabled persons in the State. |
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