‘Implement JK Persons with Disabilities Act 1998 in letter and spirit’

Greater Kashmir NEWS NETWORK
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Srinagar, Dec 1: Differently abled persons from Kashmir on Thursday demanded that the Government should implement Jammu and Kashmir Persons with Disabilities Act 1998 in letter and spirit as they continue to suffer for want of implementation of the Act in the state.
“ We want implementation of Persons with Disability Act 1998 in letter and spirit. We do not need the meagre amount of Rs 400 as monthly pension but employment and education which is our basic right,” said Javed Ahmad Tak, honorary chairman Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline Bijbehara.
He was speaking on the inauguration of the weeklong programmes in connection with the World Disability Day at SKICC here.
Highlighting the problems faced by differently-abled persons, Tariq Bashir, a visually impaired person, working as lecturer DIET Anantnag highlighted the problems faced by visually impaired persons in day to day life, Dildar Ahmad Shapoo, a spinal injured person, bound to wheel chair highlighted the problems faced by severe persons with disabilities particularly problems faced by wheel chair users.
Minister of Social Welfare Sakeena Itoo said lot needs to be done for the real empowerment of physically challenged persons of the Valley. “There is great need for the conduct of door to door census in order to know the accurate figures of persons with disabilities in the state, as there has been greater increase in disability due to turmoil in the valley, ” said Itoo.
A statement issued Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline Bijbehara said that the minister directed for special employment of two young women with severe disability in social welfare department.
She assured that amendment will be brought in the Govt. Circular No: 62-SW of 2001 through Cabinet so that all eligible persons with disabilities get jobs through recruiting agencies, the statement added.
Director CRC and Director social Welfare Hilal Ahmad Parray acknowledged the problems faced by differently abled persons and stressed for the need of ISSS pension to be increased and assured the implementation of Jammu and Kashmir Persons with Disabilities Act 1998, the statement said.
Principal and sessions Judge Srinagar Kaneez Fatima donated five wheel chairs to the differently abled persons on spot in the memory of her son Late Sajid Iqbal Khanday.
Director SKICC Dr Gulam Nabi Qasba announced that an access audit will be conducted in SKICC soon to make it completely disable friendly.
Mementos were presented to Dr Asgar Hassan Samoon, Divisional commissioner Kashmir for creating assebility in Div Com office. Dr. Ghulam Nabi Itoo, Special assistant to Minister for Social Welfare for giving special attention to disability issues in J&K, Sajid Iqbal (posthumously) for being a helper of disable people (Kaneez Fatima received the memento.) Chowkidar Andoora Shangus –Khursheed, Janna Begum – Anganwadi Worker Arwani Bijbehara and Fahmeeda female multipurpose worker wopzan Bijbehara were awarded with special mementos for their contribution in disability sector in the villages of Anantnag district.
The programme was supported by Ahad Hotels and resorts Srinagar.
Adil Rashid gave vote of thanks on behalf of the organization.