Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 17 2008:
Urging to frame a State handicapped policy so as to enforce the Persons With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act 1995, the Handicapped Development Foundation (HDF) has submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister today.
Speaking to reporters at Sagolband, Tera today, HDF secretary general Jashbanta decried persons with disabilities are being denied several rights due to them.
Moreover, most of the disabled persons have not been getting any benefit from any welfare programme taken up by the Government specifically for them.
Taking into account of the unavailability of several benefits entitled to persons with disabilities under the Disability Act 1995, the HDF submitted an 11 point memorandum to the Chief Minister.
Copies of the memorandum were also submitted to the Social Welfare Minister and Social Welfare, Disability Commissioner.
The basic points highlighted in the memorandum include 3 percent reservation for persons with disabilities during admission in educational institutes and a similar 3 percent reservation for disables persons in all exams conducted by the Manipur Public Service Commission.
Other demands were creating a full time post for Disability Commissioner and formulation of a State Handicapped Policy.
Installation of Braille symbols in public places including Government offices, educational institutes, hospitals, roads, waiting sheds, public toilets etc was another point of the memorandum.
The HDF Manipur also demanded 3 percent reservation for disabled persons during recruitment of grade A and B employees in both public and private sectors.
Counting disabled persons under a separate column during the 2011 census so as to establish their exact figure and establishment of an exclusive Department for persons with disabilities were other demands of the HDF.
It also demanded increment of the allowances given to disabled persons as well as to open vocational rehabilitation centre in all the special schools established for disabled persons.
Poster campaign undertaken by the HDF Manipur since October 17 was also declared closed during the press meet today.