As part of celebration of World Disability Day, UNICEF and ELFA International in collaboration with Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities organized mega events both at Jammu and Srinagar.At Jammu, Commissioner Secretary, Social Welfare Department, Sheetal Nanda, chaired the event held to mark World Disability Day.
Commissioner Secretary, while addressing on the occasion, expressed appreciation and pleasure over extension of this Central Act to the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir after 5th August 2019. “The J&K government has also framed the Jammu and Kashmir Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2021, to benefit PwDs with the vast provisions of the Central law, she asserted.
Now, persons with disabilities have access to better healthcare, education, sports, free education, cultural activities and most importantly reservation in employment, she added. She said that the Social Welfare Department has already issued an order in this regard providing employment avenues in various departments for persons suffering with benchmark disabilities.
She said that the UT government has recently appointed Iqbal Lone as the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities who shall work as a friend, philosopher and guide to the persons with disabilities.
There is ample scope for joint efforts by the Social Welfare Department and Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities to conduct, encourage and promote awareness campaigns and sensitization programmes to ensure that the rights of persons with disabilities provided under the Central Act are protected, she maintained.
Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, J&K, Iqbal Lone, who supervised both the events, answered several queries of the audience and media persons. He said that there is provision for any aggrieved person with disabilities to approach him who has been vested with the powers of a Civil Court for this purpose. It is my prime concern to ensure that there is zero tolerance for discrimination against persons with disabilities, he maintained.
He said that it has been the constant endeavour of Central as well as UT government to ensure full participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in the society. It is not only the responsibility of Government but that of every citizen to work individually and collectively towards welfare of persons with disabilities, he added.
“I reassure the persons with disabilities that they shall no longer end up disconnected, live in isolation or face discrimination. They will be treated with respect and dignity in every sphere of life and help make India a model country to inspire the rest of the world with our commitment to ensure 'LIFE WITH DIGNITY' for persons with disabilities” maintained the Commissioner.
At Srinagar, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P K Pole, chaired the World Disability Day celebration.The event was participated by hundreds of participants from the Universities, civil society, organizations, media and others.The unique attraction of the event was the oath ceremony by all the participants pledging to the protection of the rights of persons with disabilities.