Valley’s physically challenged left in lurk

Author Zeenat Zeeshan Fazil - Sunday, 18 03 2012 10:41

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CRC promised much but delivered least
Srinagar: Composite Regional Centre (CRC) that was established in 2000 at Bemina (Bye Pass) with the aim to rehabilitate disabled people under the ‘Persons with Disabilities Act’ (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and full participation ), has brought nothing but disillusionment to the disabled people of Kashmir.
Talking to ‘Kashmir Images’, Javed Tak, Chairman Humanity Welfare Organization, a Helpline NGO, said “the main objective of CRC is to develop human resource by training professionals, to develop linkages amongst medical, educational and vocational services in order to extend services to rural areas in the form of community based rehabilitation. And to provide rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities to undertake designing, fabrication and fitment of aids and appliances and to serve as resource centre for rehabilitation and special education of persons with disabilities but here in Kashmir, it fails to fulfill its mandate.”
There are only six CRCs in the country and “tens of thousands of disabled people across the Valley were lucky enough to have one here but due to its mismanagement, centre has been rendered useless,” informs he.
“The main aim of establishing CRC in J&K was that it will cater the needs not only of disabled people of J&K but people of entire North India, but forget about other states, CRC is unable to deliver in its own state,” Tak said
In order to provide help to the physically challenged people, CRC here (which is funded by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment), has also established two branches (named District Disability Research Centre) at Anantnag and Baramulla.
As per insiders, despite getting annual funds of Rs 21 lakh (each one), centres are defunct as both lack not only in infrastructure and staff but have no monitory mechanism in place which aggravates the suffering of the people.
“I had come to get wheel chairs but officials here say that I need to go to Bemina for it, as they have no infrastructure available. Most of the people attending the Centre are disappointed,” said Ghulam Mohammad Gania, a physically disabled person of Anchidora of South Kashmir.
Now the question arises, “for a wheel chair that costs around Rs 800 I have to shell out around Rs 1000 on transport as I cannot travel in a local bus. Also I am also to be escorted by one more person,” he said adding “in the absence of CRC branches at other districts, majority of the population suffers,”
As per insiders, till date state government has failed to appoint permanent Director and staff for CRC.
“Since its establishment, centre has had 12 Directors but none of them permanent as all of them were having additional charge of the CRC. It is unfortunate that an accountant serves as an administrator at CRC,” confirms Tak.
In order to provide relief to the physically challenged people “Government needs to appoint someone who is given full fledged charge not additional one, otherwise what happens usually after finishing job of his office, Director comes to CRC after 5 pm,” said he adding “ His absence in the day time makes thousands of disabled people to suffer.”
As per Javed , at present, the CRC does provide some short term diploma, bachelors and other courses in rehabilitation therapy but there is no mobility training for visually impaired or mentally disabled persons,”
Since 2000, four times, CRC tried to open a school for visually impaired children, but was closed every time.
“The authorities say that they are incapable to bear the transportation charges of visually impaired children which forced them to close down the school,” adds Javed Tak.
When contacted, Hilal Ahmed Parray, Director Social Welfare (also holding additional charge of CRC) said, “All these people (disabled ones) are lying as CRC is providing all the help to them.”
“We have started academic course at CRC and are regularly doing campus assessments at various districts that include Bandipora, Kupwara and Budgam and are even distributing aids to these people,” said Parray.
He admits that the need of the hour is to upgrade machinery at CRC for which he has already sent proposal to central government.
When told his absence in the centre is making these people to suffer, he said, “People are there to tackle the problem of disabled people. It is not important whether I am available or not,” Parray told this reporter