Imphal, December 15 2008: VISUALLY IMPARIED Sapam Jasobanta, a resident of Tera Sapam Leirak in Manipur's Imphal west district drew the attention of National Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice S Rajendra Babu over the rejection of his plea for applying in the Manipur Public Service Commission exmaination in the recent time. Jasobanta raised the issue of discrimination against disabled persons due to non-implementation of certain Disabilities Act in the region, during the technical session of the ongoing two day regional workshop on disability for north eastern region here at the banquet hall of the 1st battalion MR today.

Jasobanta said, "This act is nothing but a paper tiger in the state".

"I had applied for MPSC examination three years back but they rejected, later I wrote to Labour Commissioner but there's no response" he narrated.

Later Jasobanta filed a case in the Gauhati High Court Imphal Bench but it was withdrawn and subsequently he filed in Supreme Courton September 3 last wherein the court kept it "under consideration". "I didn't want to blame the government as they (government) are not aware of it" the visually impaired Imphalite felt.

Similarly Tami Taniang, a physically handicapped member of Arunachal Pradesh Handicapped Welfare Society who flew down here along with one of his assistance from Naharlagun near Itanagar for the workshop requested the NHRC to ask the states for effective implementation of Disability Act in his state as well in future. Sharing a similar sentiments, Government officials, NGO leaders and legal experts during the technical session of the workshop on Monday observed that the rights of the disabled persons in north east states are in a bad shape.

It appears that the sensibility on this disabilities both in government and NGOs is lacking not to speak of enjoying the provisions of the legislations or the rights under Article 41 of the constitution. Even the Special Rapporteur Asha das of the NHRC after listening to statements of the government officials of the NE state during the technical session said, it appears that the initiatives which is to be taken up for the welfare of the disabilities is lacking behind here. Asha who made her observation during in presence of the NHRC chairman Justice S Rajendra Babu further said, "the government need to take up pro-actice steps" while the "NGOs can identity the jobs for the disabled persons". Article 41 of the constitution directs the state to make effective provision for securing right to work,to education, to public assistance in cases of disablement.

Besides there are four legislations towards the protection, welfare, rehabilitation and development of people with disabilities. Meanwhile one Anthony, an official of Nagaland's social welfare department drew the attention of NHRC to intervene political interfence in executing works relating to the disabled persons in his home state.

He said,"I presume, no other state has such kind of political interference" while taking up welfare activities of Nagaland's 30,000 disabled persons. Government officials of Assam, Meghalaya and Sikkim at the same time underlined their hardship in finding the official datas in connection with the employment of disabled persons in different government departments in their respective states. According to a lady official from Meghalaya, around 100 out of 180 disabled persons registered in the special employment exchange of the state got job opportunity in both central and state establishments. Similarly there are reports of appointing 250 individuals in Tripura.

However in case of host Manipur,due to lack of awarness, the state authority is yet to get detail report on it.

Comment