NDN and NCRPD Meeting
Date: 27.01.2021
Time: 2.00- 4.45 PM (5:15 PM)
Venue: Zoom
Participants:
1. Mr. Arman Ali
2. Mr. Akhil Paul
3. Mr. Anuj Jain
4. Mr. Ankit Rajiv Jindal
5. Mr. Arun Kumar Singh
6. Mr. Avelino de Sa
7. Mr. Akshay Jain
8. Ms. Anju Talukdar
9. Mr. Aniket Panda ( Sign-language Interpreter)
10. Ms. Anoushka Augustine
11. Ms. Asifa Parveen
12. Mr. Babu S Khan
13. Mr. Balbir Singh
14. Ms. Diethono Nakhro
15. Ms. Garima Shukla (Sign-language Interpreter)
16. Maj. General Ian Cardozo (Retd.)
17. Mr. Javed Ahmad Tak
18. Mr. Javed Hasan
19. Dr. J.S. Arora
20. Ms. Kanchan Panmani
21. Ms. Ketaki Bardalai
22. Dr. Ketna L Mehta
23. Ms. Kumari Vaishnavi
24. Ms. Mridu Goel
25. Mr. M. Srinivasulu
26. Mr. Narender Paul
27. Ms. Neha Arora
28. Ms. Niharika Das
29. Mr. Omprakash Sharma
30. Mr. Pradeep Raj
31. Ms. Priya Bhattacharya
32. Ms. Radhika Alkazi
33. Dr. Shanti Auluck
34. Dr. Sudesh Mukhopadhyay
35. Ms. Suvarna Raj
36. Ms.Tulika Das
Discussion:
Opening Remarks by Arman Ali
Arman Ali welcomed the participants and set the context of the meeting. Building on the
discussion in the previous NDN and NCRPD meeting held in June, 2020, he emphasized the
need to set a way forward in the form of building an advocacy agenda. He also gave an update on
the status quo of various activities undertaken by NCPEDP during the last few months which
include the proposed RCI Amendments, Draft Bill on University of Disability Studies and
Rehabilitation Sciences, 2021 and Suggestions for Budget 2021-22.
Overview of RCI and progress till present proposed 2020 RCI Draft by Dr. Sudesh
Mukhopadhyay
The proposed amendments to the RCI Act raises questions over the qualifications of RCI
Chairperson by introducing new criteria and tilting the post more towards the bureaucratic side.
The proposal also includes various new courses being added without actually delving into the
challenges. The lack of manpower and the challenges associated with it does not find mention in
the amendments.
The most striking amendment is the self-sustainment of RCI which has a direct impact on the
organizations and individuals working and taking courses under the RCI. With NEP 2020,
certificate and diploma courses come under the purview of higher education. But the proposed
amendments are not in alignment with the NEP 2020. It has also failed to see special schools as a
medium required for children with disabilities.
Courses have been divided into personal and professional and tends to overlap with NCT. The
reflection of disability as a state subject and PRI subject is not clear. Therefore, there is a need to
look closely at the aspects of Choice based credit and certifications, interlinkages between
different disability organizations and financial coverage.
Suggestion: White paper needs to be developed.
Gen. Ian Cardozo: There is a need to develop a Vision for the disability sector in terms of a five
year plan. Strategies should be structured keeping in mind views from the international, national
and regionals spectrums. Emphasis needs to be laid on understanding if the already existing
infrastructure of the RCI, National Trust, Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities is
sufficient.
The approach should be to work in tandem with the government which would in turn be
beneficial to the disability sector.
Mr. Akhil Paul: Responding to a point raised by Dr. Mukhopadhyay, Mr. Paul was of the
opinion that merging of courses is not lucrative. As such, a long term approach in the form of
social audit needs to be undertaken.
Mr. Narender Paul: Allocation of budget is either not utilised or underutilised, if we
collectively and cohesively work we can bring up the gaps in that to the ministry .
Mr. Anuj Jain: The importance of deaf teachers and hearing teachers should be recognised in
schools and higher education institutes. Under B.Ed. , Me. Ed. there is a need to rename hearing
impaired as deaf.
Ms. Shanti Auluck: We should work towards setting up a secretariat which will involve all the
organizations from the sector in order to provide a larger vision to the sector.
Update on State Activities by NDN Partners
Mr. Narendra Paul ( Himachal Pradesh): CORD has been working closely with the state on
short term and long term status of children with disabilities. Education of children with
disabilities has been affected due to COVID-19. Engagement of persons with disabilities and
government on livelihood strengthening at the grassroot level such as MGNREGA is happening.
A week in December was dedicated to disaster reduction and sensitization on disaster
management with the state.
Mr. Arun Kumar Singh (Jharkhand): The organization has been working in the field of
advocacy since 14 years but much of the work gets affected due to paucity of funds. And
COVID-19 had further deteriorated the situation. Pension has been delayed, disability certificate
camps have stopped. Antyodaya Cards have been converted to general/green cards where ration
entitlement is less than the Antyodaya. Education of children with disabilities has also suffered a
lot. Further, delayed responsiveness from the state authorities led to the death of two persons
with thalassemia.
However, some positive steps were also taken during COVID-19 like a two day workshop on
RPwD Act, 2016 as well support in the form of rations in rural areas was done in collaboration
with NCPEDP. A PIL has also been filed in the Jharkhand High Court for providing aid and
blood to a person suffering from Thalassemia. Steps are being taken for inclusion of persons with
disabilities in Panchayti Raj committees. Lastly, there is a need to create awareness around the
RPwD Act, 2016 as well as the 21 types of disabilities.
Ms. Tulika Das (West Bengal): Sanchar has been advocating with the Department of Education
for reopening of schools including special schools and to develop an inclusive SOP. Demands
are being made to ensure that no children with disabilities dropout from schools as that teachers
are considered a priority in vaccination. Lastly, with elections coming up in the state measures
are being taken to ensure that election manifestos include issues of persons with disabilities and
that the entire election process is made inclusive.
Ms. Vaishnavi Kumari (Bihar): COVID-19 has affected the education of children with
disabilities. Violence on women with disabilities and health issues have increased manifold and
the online assistance provided online has proved to be ineffective. Filing of PIL is another
challenge as the process is slow and leads to delayed justice for the victim.
Little relief was provided in the form of ration through NCPEDP.
Ms. Dietheno Nakhro (Nagaland): A lot of positive developments have been observed with
regard to persons with disabilities in the state of Nagaland. 4% reservation in jobs, special
prosecutors in courts have been notified as per the RPwD Act, 2016. Jobs have been identified
and published for persons with disabilities. As per Section 16 and 31 of the RPwD Act, 2016
inclusive education has been notified. Opening of a para sports committee has been initiated in
collaboration with the Nagaland Olympic Association. Monitoring of employment opportunities
for Pwd is undertaken in the state.
However, there are few shortcomings in terms of implementation. There is a dearth of special
education teachers. Identified posts were incomplete with regards to intellectual and multiple
disabilities.
Further, COVID-19 has brought to the forefront the need to create an inclusive disaster risk,
reduction and management. Vaccination has also been taken up with the health department to
emphasise on the need to give priority to persons with disabilities.
Ms. Ketaki Bardalai (Assam): During COVID-19, persons with disabilities were provided
individualized telephonic rehabilitation. The Awareness Generation Program conducted by the
Government of Assam was resumed at the State Level. Access audits have been conducted and
the construction of footbridges are being looked into to ensure accessibility standards are met.
Collaboration with the office of the Commissioner for Disability to increase the availability and
accessibility of information in braille and sign language interpretations. IEC campaigns are being
conducted to create awareness around making public spaces accessible by using radio jingles.
Persons with disabilities are still unable to access the reservations in housing related schemes,
aadhar cards are being denied on the ground of disability. Discrepancies in allocation of pension
to persons with disabilities has also been observed.
With COVID-19 bringing to the forefront the gaps in the disaster management authority,
awareness programs are being conducted.
Mr. Javed Ahmed Tak (Jammu & Kashmir): Intense climatic conditions for the past few
months have hampered the lives of persons with disabilities to access resources in the state. The
RPwD Act, 2016 has not been implemented and neither has the state rules been formulated. As a
result of this, the provisions for persons with disabilities as per the RPwD Act, 2016 is not there.
Implementation of NEP 2020 has been a major problem. Education of children with disabilities
have also been impacted due to COVID-19.
Ms. Mridu Goel (Uttar Pradesh): Helplines have aided in resolving problems of persons with
disabilities and it has also helped in creating medical and educational awareness. Access audits
have been conducted and a lot of the infrastructure audited were not accessible. Efforts need to
be taken to ensure new projects like RRTC under which construction of roads and depots are
sanctioned will be accessible for persons with disabilities.
Dr Ketna Mehta ( Maharashtra): The focus has been majorly on spinal cord injuries where the
network of hospitals is missing. It's important to run an awareness drive on spinal cord injuries.
Rehabilitation of spinal cord injury is an important area which needs to be developed. There is a
lack of registry which would serve as the database for the number of persons who have met with
accidents and have faced severe head and spinal cord injuries. A separate advocacy campaign
should be undertaken to make Spinal cord injury a separate disability.
Ms. Kanchan Pamnani (Maharashtra): The Bombay High Court has issued an order in favour
of persons with disabilities whereby it ruled that BMC has to provide salary to the disabled BMC
workers which was otherwise affected due to the lockdown. All grievance redressal through the
Disability Commissioner’s office has been made online. Further, the police officials played a big
role in assisting persons with disabilities during Covid 19.
National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 by Ms. Radhika Alakzi
The NEP, 2020 speaks in detail on children with disabilities and aims to change the core of the
education system by providing for new institutions, school complexes etc. While the Policy
speaks in detail about children with disabilities, it has failed to acknowledge the mention of
special schools. To this effect, a letter has been sent to the Union Education Minister apprising
him of the gaps in the NEP, 2020.
Mr. Amarjit Singh Anand (Punjab): The state disability rules have been notified recently.
Continuous follow-ups are being made with MP’s of various districts where there is a shortage of
assistive devices. A camp for 300 orphan inmates with disabilities was organized recently.
Another camp is in the process to enroll the inmates for disability certificates. Delay in pension
has been a pertinent issue in the issue with a backlog amounting to 7.5 crores.
Mr. Babu ( Karnataka): 4 RPD and 1 taskforce was selected for district level RPwD Act, 2016
implementation. Special provision was given to the Kalburgi division. Under 5% resource
allocation, 159 persons with disabilities got access to assistive devices, 95 persons with
disabilities got access to modified two wheelers and 257 ration kits were distributed from the
district administration. 810 persons with disabilities received pensions in Kalburgi. 1793 persons
with disabilities got registered under MNREGA and the Kalburgi division local body ensured Rs.
1.30 Cr for persons with disabilities in the 2021-22 Budget.
Further, six grievance redressal meetings were planned out of which 4 were held. More than Rs.
3500 crores were allocated by the state govt for pension. Two capacity building programs have
been undertaken during this year and 600 government school teachers have been oriented with
RPwD Act, 2016. 237 persons with disabilities from across the state were provided with the
information on udid, pension etc.
Two domestic violence cases were reported and the matter is being looked at. A meeting was
held with the Child Development Minister and submitted a memorandum.
Mr. Md. Yunus Khan (Manipur): Skill development center in the state was approached to get
an update on fund allocation and distribution. However, due to COVID-19, persons with
disabilities have been affected due to lack of coordination between various departments
concerning disability.
Concluding Remarks by Mr. Arman Ali
It was observed that there is a need for :
● Constant intervention at the state level vis-a-vis the implementation of the RPwD Act,
2016
● State level update of NEP 2020 vis-a-vis children with disabilities by intervening in the
NEP Tasks force formed in the states. Highlighting the gaps in the NEP 2020, a letter has
been sent to the State Education Ministers, Chief Secretaries and Chief Ministers which
requires continuous follow up from the state level partners
● Monitoring the State Budget and ensuring that it is inclusive of persons with disabilities
● Ensuring accessible elections at the state level
● Develop a strategy to ensure the exercise of Census 2021 is conducted in an accessible
and inclusive manner
● Strengthening NDN/NCRPD network by identifying new members
Overall there is a need to develop a five year roadmap for the disability sector with a cross-
disability approach.
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