Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Dec 3: Protest demonstration, different competitions and awareness rallies marked World Disability Day across the State.
JAMMU: Large number of persons with disabilities held protest under the banner of J&K Handicapped Welfare Association at Dogra Chowk, near Press Club, here. The protest was led by State President of the Association, RS Manhas. In a memorandum to Chief Minister, the protestors demanded office accommodation in each districts with central offices at Jammu and Srinagar, enhancement of monthly pension from Rs 1000 to Rs 8000 per month, provide works under MGNREGA Scheme to persons with disability in rural and urban areas, include persons with disability in BPL categories, reservation policy in employment, health cover with special package, reservation in professional colleges, set-up advisory board, provide loans on low interest rate with 50 per cent subsidy to handicapped persons, separate counters in every government and semi government offices in J&K, 50 per cent concession in electric and water charges, re-advertisement of backlog vacancies, constitution of State, division and district co-ordination committee for redressal of the problems and declare holiday on World Disabled Day.
On the eve of World Disability Day, Speaker J&K Legislative Assembly, Kavinder Gupta inaugurated a daylong event at Press Club Jammu, which was organized by Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline (NGO) in collaboration with Jiger Institute of Education, Training and Rehabilitation of Children with Disability Gangyal and supported by Samaj Kalyan Kendra Jammu, National Federation of the Blind, Jammu Unit, J&K Handicapped Welfare Association, Aasra Institute for Disable Children and Parents Association of Mentally Disables Children.
Member of Parliament, Jugal Kishore Sharma besides Managing Director, staff of the school, students and their parents were also present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, Speaker said that society should aid and accommodate the special needs of the persons with disabilities and infuse a sense of security among them.
With regard to the demands put forth by the NGO, Kavinder assured that he will take up the issues with the Government for immediate redress of the grievances of disabled persons.
Speaker also impressed upon the social workers, civil society and NGOs of the State to come forward in helping disabled in all respects so that they can live with honor and dignity.
Later, Kavinder also presided over a function of Sarvodaya Public School at Pouni Chak where he asked the teachers to provide quality education to the students and contribute towards nation building. The Speaker also distributed the certificates among participants of ‘Dogra Pagri Baandh Pratiyogita’ function held at Dogra Sabha.
Minister of State for Education, Technical Education, Culture, Tourism, Department of Horticulture, Floriculture and Parks Priya Sethi today said that provisions would be made for permanent recognition of the Louis Braille Memorial Residential (LBM) School for sightless girls as an educational institute for specially-abled persons.
Minister said this while attending a function organized in connection with the ‘World Disability Day’ at the school complex at Roop Nagar, here.
Chairman SSRB J&K, Sarita Chauhan and Convener, National Federation of the Blind, J&K Chapter Mohinder Kumar Badyal were also present on the occasion.
Responding to the demands presented by the federation that focused primarily on education, training and easy adjustment of specially-abled people in the mainstream society, the Minister assured them of prompt action and said that their concerns will be taken up along right channels to provide early resolutions.
The demands included conducting of review of the disable act for inducting further posts for disabled in various departments on account of advancements in science and technology, besides identification and considerate treatment of specially-abled government employees with respect to postings.
Requests were also made for a special recruitment policy for Specially-Abled Persons to make employment accessible to various categories of differently-abled people besides request for urgent posting of maths and computer science teachers at the LBM School on deputation basis.
Senior Vice President JKPCC and Former Minister Congress Sham Lal Sharma has stressed on the need for more initiatives for the welfare and rehabilitation of physically challenged people, so that they can lead a dignified life.
Speaking at a function organised by J&K Disabled Welfare Association to mark World Disability Day at Akhnoor, the former minister said, “Only Government efforts are not enough to address the issues of disabled people. The entire society has to work for their upliftment. They have equal right to live and progress in the society and this can be made possible with the support of all sections”.
Sharma said that State Government and Centre Government must pay due attention to the people with disabilities and allocate resources as well as issue policies to support and ensure their rights, helping to promote their participation in socioeconomic development.
Chairman J&K Disable Welfare Association, Sushil Sharma expressed resentment against BJP-PDP Government for not giving due attention to their genuine demands which are lying pending. He also projected various demands including pension to all disabled persons, timely disbursement of disabled pension, clear up all the pending cases of pension of disabled persons, enhancement of monthly pension, reservation to handicapped persons, raise percentage of reservation, grant political reservations, establishment of State Commission for disabled persons and special safeguard for handicapped regarding transfers and postings.
Responding to the issues, Sham Lal Sharma said that the issues are genuine and will be taken up with the higher authorities of the State Government and if needed will be raised in the forthcoming assembly session for its resolution.
To observe World Disability Day, the zonal level rallies were organized at Government Girls Higher Secondary School Satwari, Government Higher Secondary School Bhour Camp and Government Higher Secondary School Mandal Phallian, which were flagged off by Makhan Lal Sharma, Principal GHSS Satwari, Nishat Sultana, ZEO Satwari, Swaran Lata Soni, Principal, HSS Bhour Camp and Garo Devi, Principal HSS Mandal Phallian. The members of various Village Education Committees, Parents and Teachers Associations and Mothers-Teachers Associations of the Zone Satwari also joined the students in rallies. Students from various government schools also participated in the rallies. In the end, NA Qurashi, Overall Incharge of the programme presented vote of thanks. Earlier, in all Government schools, the painting competitions, chart making, calligraphy competitions and slogan competitions were organized in which hundreds of children participated and expressed their sentiments, vision and approach with regard to the rights of special children through colours and creativities.
SRINAGAR: Minister of Education, Naeem Akhtar said the Government will initiate massive programme to provide facilities to Children with Special Needs (CWSN) so that these special children are provided level playing field in the academics.
Minister was speaking at a function organized in connection with the World Disability Day at Government Girls Higher Secondary School Kothibagh Srinagar. He said number of programmes will be initiated during the next academic year for the welfare of specially-abled children.
He said presently one Braille training centre is functional at S P Higher Secondary School, but more such centers will be opened in other schools across the State in the days to come.
On the occasion, the Minister distributed hearing aids among the needy students.
During the function, it was said that number of CWSN in the State is 34935 out of which 25444 are enrolled in various educational institutes.
Director School Education Kashmir, Ajaz Ahmad Bhat was also present on the occasion.
Later, the Minister visited Ganderbal and distributed cheques worth Rs 1.30 crore among 1440 beneficiaries as financial assistance under the Education Assistance, Marriage Assistance, Death Compensation, Medical Assistance and Professional Assistance Welfare Schemes.
Legislator Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Tariq Ahmad Ganaie, Deputy Labour Commissioner Kashmir, CEO/Secretary J&K Building and other construction Workers Welfare Board and other officers were present on the occasion.
On World Disability Day, candle light rally was organized by group of organizations working on disability rights in Kashmir Valley. The event was organized by Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline in collaboration with J&K Handicapped Association and Parents Association of Mentally Disabled Children. The rally was organized at Press Colony to highlight the issues of persons with disabilities.
SAMBA: A rally was flagged off by the Deputy Commissioner Samba, Sheetal Nanda on occasion of World Disability Day in which SSP Samba Joginder Singh, ADDC Vivek Sharma, ADC Pawan Sharma, CPO J S Sambyal, CEO OP Bhagat, DSWO Mushtaq Choudhary, district officers and school children participated. Around 500 children carrying placard raised participated in the rally, which started from Kehli Mandi and after passing through main market concluded at Ranbir Chowk. Later, a function was organised at DC Office Complex samba to felicitate the 21 differently abled children who excelled in various events like spoon race, painting, musical chair, dance and quiz competitions organised during the week long activities in the district.
UDHAMPUR: To mark the World Disabled Day, a festival-cum-fare was organized by District Administration for differently-abled children under the theme ‘World For All’ at New Community Hall, Udhampur. Principal Sessions and District Judge, Udhampur Kikar Singh Parihar, who is also the Chairman of District Legal Services Authority, was the chief guest on the occasion. Additional District and Sessions Judge Udhampur, Sonia Gupta, District Development Commissioner Udhampur, Niraj Kumar, SSP Shailendra Mishra were also present on the occasion. During the festival, various colourful food stalls and joy rides were enjoyed by the children. Besides this, a painting competition was also held which saw the participation of large number of differently-abled children. An on the spot camp was also organized by the Health Department in which Disability certificates were issued to the differently-abled children. Various cultural programmes were presented by the specially-abled children. DDC Niraj Kumar, ADC Angrez Singh Rana, CPO Rakesh Jamwal, ACR Subhash Chander Dogra, PO DRDA Jagdish Chander Mehra, CMO Dr Chander Prakash, CEO Bishan Singh, District Social Welfare Officer Rachna Sharma, Deputy District Election Officer Sapna Kotwal, DPO Sandeep Seointra , DFO SF Dr Rajan Singh, DIO Esha Chib besides other district officers also attended the programme.
RAMBAN: Various departments organized programmes to observe World Disability Day. Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) Ramban, Neelam Lengah was the chief guest on the occasion and flagged off an awareness rally from Higher Secondary School Ramban. Rally after passing through main market and chowks culminated at BVM Ramban in which large number of students including Children with Special Needs (CWSN) and staff members participated. ADDC Ramban Ravinder Nath Sadhu presided over the function, DPO, ICDS Ashok Pandita, DSWO, Varunjeet Singh Charak, Dy CEO Bal Ji Thaplu, Medical Superintendent DH Ramban, Dr Saif-u-Din, ZEO Zubaida Parveen and Principal BVM Pardeep Singh Thakur were among the dignitaries. The rally was followed by various motivational and informative events including skit, modeling, dance, singing debate, panting and demonstration session were also held under IED component of SSA at BVM Ramban in which students drawn from all educational zones displayed their talent. Earlier Social Welfare department also organized similar awareness camp at Banihal. On the occasion, MLA informed that 12 scooties and 7 wheel chairs were provided by the Social Welfare Department to the needy persons. Speakers urged the community to cooperate with these differently-abled children as they are having different abilities and hidden talents. Later, prizes were also distributed among the students.
RAJOURI: A rally in support of specially abled persons was organized, which started from ZEO Office Thanna Mandi and concluded at Middle School Thanna Mandi. The rally was presided over by ZEO Thanna Mandi and hosted by Sadeeq Ghanai, Principal GHSS Thanna Mandi. On the occasion, Manzoor Ghanai and 2 IC RR Thanna Mandi Ajat Shatroo was the chief guest and guest of honour respectively. Jahanger Alam Khan, Zonal Coordinator IE Wing Thanna Mandi was the overall incharge of the rally and stage secretary. Other who management the programme were Ahmed Khan, Shokit Mir, Ashfaq Samyal, Qamar Manzoor, Zaffer Amin and Sheraz Qazi.
LEH: Department of Education, LAHDC, Leh observed International Day of Persons with Disability Day. Executive Councilor Agriculture Tsering Wangdus was the chief guest and Mohammad Iqbal, President PAGIR was the guest of honour on the occasion. Dr Yangchan Dolma, CMO Leh, District Social Welfare Officer Rigzin Spalgon, Orthopedic Surgeon Dr Anwar Hussain, CEO Leh, Surender Kumar, Sonam Dorjey, Headquarter Assistant, special teacher for differently abled students and some of the person with disability also expressed their views. Colourful cultural programmes were also performed by students of Government High School Chuchot Yokma, PAGIR and REWA Institutes. Prizes to position holders in art and craft, song and dance competitions were also presented to specially able students children. Gifts were also presented by 16th Gadwal Riffle Team to students of Government High School Chuchot Yokma.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
