Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 10 2010:
The All Tribal Disables' Union, Manipur (ATDUM) demanded the state government to appoint a full time commissioner for the disables.
President, ATDUM, Momo Tantanga, in a press meet at the office of ATDUM at Nagaram, Imphal, said that the state government is not paying attention to the repeated pleas of ATDUM to appoint a full time commissioner for the disables.
The state government is violating the Persons with Disabilities Act (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) 1995 by not paying attention to the pleas of the union.
ATDUM had filed a PIL against the state government on October 6 this year.
Subsequently, the Guwahati High Court, Imphal Bench had issued a directive to the state government to appoint a full time commissioner for the disables.
Following the directive, state government appointed Director, Social Welfare as ex-officio Commissioner (Disabilities), he said.
He further said that according to the PWD Act New Ammendment Rule 2009, the commissioner of disables should have proper knowledge of rehabilitation of disables and should not be a government employee.
Reacting to the act of the state government, ATDUM decided to file a counter affidavit.
They also appealed the state government to create district medical boards as soon as possible to make it possible to assess the disables in the remote areas of the state.
Reports have stated that ATDUM's efforts are praiseworthy and need the support of the general masses.