World Disability Week Celebrations in Kashmir

Differently-abled people observe 'black day' in Kashmir
WORLD DISABILITY DAY
MANZOOR-UL-HASSAN
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Srinagar, Dec 3: On the World Disability Day on Monday, differently-abled people observed ‘black day’ to protest what they termed as Government’s discriminatory approach towards resolution of their demands and failure to implement special legislations for their upliftment.
The differently-abled people assembled under the banner of Voluntary Medicare Society J&K in Lal Chowk and marched towards Press Enclave. Holding placards in their hands, they expressed strong resentment over the Government’s indifferent attitude towards them.
“I move slowly so I can enjoy every single moment of my life; we don’t want charity, we don’t want kindness… we want education and opportunity,” one the placards read
The differently-abled persons from Kashmir demanded that the Government should implement Jammu and Kashmir Persons with Disabilities Act 1998 in letter and spirit.
“We don’t need meager amount of Rs 400 as monthly pension but employment and education which is our basic right. The Act guarantees us a dignified life. Discriminatory attitude of Government towards us forced us to observe this day as black day,” said Javed Ahmad Tak, honorary Chairman Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline Bijbehara.
Tak said there is confusion about the selection criteria formulated by the Government in making recruitments through SSRB and PSC for the persons with disabilities.
“In other states flawless policies and SROs exist to help the persons with disabilities of all sorts to seek education and employment. There is no school with appropriate teaching facilities where children with disabilities can continue their education through special educators and appropriate learning material,” he said.
He said there is no feasible curriculum available with the State Board and the Universities in J&K for disabilities.
Representatives of NGOs which work for welfare of the differently-abled persons said that no purpose would be served by merely observing the World Disability Day.
“Serving buns and juice to the disabled won’t serve any purpose. Government should come out with an action plan for their betterment. This horrible attitude of Government officials and peoples’ representatives is condemnable,” they said.
A group of differently-abled children of Zaiba Aapa Institute of Inclusive Education also organized a candle light rally at Press Enclave in the evening to highlight their problems. Holding candles, they shouted slogans demanding their rights of education, employement and accessibility.
They also demanded introduction of Braille system of education and sign language in Government Schools.
Pertinently, according to a survey conducted by the School Education Department at least 1,863 children are living with disability in Srinagar out of which nearly 300 children are non-school goers.
“It is due to non-implementation of inclusive mechanism in educational institutions,” said Urfana Amin, a government teacher and a key resources person Inclusive Education for district Srinagar.
She said the structural and architectural barriers in educational institutions made parents reluctant to send their differently able wards for getting educations.
“Students facing disability by birth are carried by their parents to the class room and taken back home. Neither there is any support system nor any reasonable accommodation available for such students. Still a number of severe disabled students overcome these challenges and attain degrees. So we need to encourage them,” she said.
Project Head Humanity Welfare Organisation said the National Trust Act should be implemented in J&K. “It’ll cater the persons with mental retardation, cerebral palsy and autism,” he said.