International Day of Persons with Disabilities 2021
Leadership and participation of PwDs toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post Covid world

Dr Kshetrimayum Kala Singh *

A man is not Poor Without a rupee but a man is really poor without a dream and ambition.
And Never judge a book by its cover

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed by the United Nation General Assembly in 1992 by a resolution 47/3. The day aims to promote the rights and well - being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of Society and development to break down barriers (both Structural and altitudinal) for people with Disability.

Also this observation is done to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, Social, Economic and Cultural life. Above all these, Complete realization of the Human rights of all persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedom.

The theme for 2021 is Leadership and Participation of Persons with Disabilities towards an inclusive accessible and Sustainable Post Covid-19 World.

In such a Human Crisis due to this Pandemic of COVID-19. we should not isolate the Disabilities. We should help them in every way for Participation and inclusion in the Public Conference, Meeting, Gathering, Discussion, Festival so that they will get better and new ideas and Knowledge in their life. Later on they may become Leader of the Society and Organisations in the Post Covid-19 war and they will realise the taste and Value of surviving life. Also we should remember that steps were taken to increase the member of Disabled people working and to decrease the disability complement gap.

The Disabled persons are those who have a physical or mental impairment and the impairment has a substantial and long term adverse effect on the person's ability to carry out normal day to day activities. Common causes of Physical Disabilities are Polio, Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Cord injury. Multiple Sclerosis, Spinal bifida, Heart Disease, Lung or Respiratory problems, Mental illness including Depression, Diabetes, Stroke, Cancer, Vision impairment, Deaf or hard of hearing etc.

According to the WHO Report on Disability, 15 percent of the World’s population or more than a billion people are living with disability, of this number it is estimated that 450 million are living with a mental or neurological condition. Of the one billion population of persons with disabilities, 80% live in developing countries. The Celebration is done by holding discussion, forums and campaigns relating to disability and communities are encouraged to organize meetings, talk and even performances in their local areas.

Several NGOs, Civil Society Organizations, Many Government and Semi Government Institutions have been observing this day with grand success in their localities every year since 1992. Each and every country has the grades of disability rights. But in PORTUGAl, BRAZIL, SPAIN & FRANCE have high grades of disability rights.

We, particularly the Media, Educationist, Law Makers, Senior Citizens, Civil Society Organisations etc must try to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions. The society remains vacant without recognizing them.

Many Disabilities face many barriers to inclusion in many key aspects of society. As a result people with disabilities do not enjoy access to society on an equal basis with others, which includes areas of transportation, employment and education as well as social and political participation. The right to participate in public life is essential to create stable democracies, active citizenship and reduce inequalities in society. An integrated approach is required to ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind. So, this observance of IDPD on 3rd December is highly essential.

We know that there are many Famous Persons with Disability in this world. Some of them are
Helen Adams Keller (Deef & Blind, American Writer & Speaker with political activist.)
Joh Nash (paranoid schizophrenia, American Mathematician who was awarded the 1994 Nobel Prize for Economics.)
Nick Vujicic (without limbs Australian American, Mexican women known for many portraits & self portraits),
Ira Singhal (Scoliosis, an IAS Officer & MBA),
Jyoti Amge (Dwarfism, has Guinness world Record),
Suresh H. Advani (Polio, Doctor oncologist, Got padma Bhushan Award),
Bharat Kumar (without Left Arm, Got 2 international tiles and more than 50 medals),
Preethi Srinivasan (Quadriplegic Captain of the Under-19 Tamil Nadu Women’s Cricket team),
Ravindra Jain (Blind since birth, a veteran Indian music Composer, Lyricist and Singer),
S. Jaipal Reddy (Polio, Indian Politician who become India’s Union Minister),
Ajit Jogi (Quadriplegia, IAS, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in 2000) etc.

From the above lists we have confirmed that there are people who do not allow their disabling conditions to become a roadblock in their lives. These disabled persons have self-confidence as their biggest strength and their courage gets them success and fame.

Conclusion : The observance of this Day aims to promote understanding of disability issues and mobilize support of the dignity, rights and Well-being of persons with disabilities.

“In a Day when you don’t come across any problems you can be sure that you are travelling on the wrong path.”