Poster campaign calling for facilities for disabled launched
The Imphal Free Press

Source: kangla online

IMPHAL, Oct 17: With an objective to make possible special facilities for the disabled at various public utility places in the state as per the directive of the Disability Act 1995, the state social welfare cum disability commissioner, Letkhogin Haokip, IAS, launched a poster and banner campaign for the disabled in the state.

During the poster release function held at the office chamber of the commissioner at the Old Secretariat in Imphal, the secretary of the Handicapped Foundation Manipur, S Jasobanta Singh said it was unfortunate for the handicapped people of the state that none of the public utility facilities in the state maintained separate facilities for the disabled.
This could be due to the failure on the part of the state government to issue any serious instructions to maintain separate facilties for all kinds of public utilities at various public places.

The simple release function was attended by the officials of the state social welfare department who made an official appraisal to the commissioner for giving proper directives as per the Disabilities Act 1995.

Meanwhile, a one-day disability assessment camp was organised yesterday at Indoor Stadium, Chandel district headquarters with an objective to enhance proper distribution of disability certificates after official verification.
The disability camp was jointly organised by the state medical board, social welfare department, All Tribal Disabled’s Union Manipur (ATDUM) and Chandel District Physically Handicapped’s Association (CDPHA) at Indoor Stadium, Chandel district headquarters and was attended by 79 disabled persons including boys and girls.

All the 79 disabled persons were diagnosed for the nature of their handicap by a panel of select doctors led by Dr. Th Rabi, Dr. Th Chipson, Dr. M Akeshore, Dr. L Dhaneshore. Many of the disabled persons who turned up were diagnosed with locomotor visual, hearing and psychological disorders.

On the other hand, L Ibomcha, disability welfare officer of the state social welfare department who supervised the camp today mentioned that the assessment camp was conducted to provide certain facilities from the department after identifiying the disabilities officially. He said since there are privileges provided the disabled under Disability Act 1995, section 2 and Sub-section D Government of India and there are provisions for 3 percent reservation in education and other scholarships, it was a must for the department to carry out official assessment of the disabled persons in the district for issuing disability certificates.

Similar assessments would be held in other districts one after the other, he added.