Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Setting up of a Dept for Disabilities Affair demanded


BHUBANESWAR: Persons with specially-abled, their family members and social activists from across the State decided to present a memorandum to the State Government for setting up of a Department for persons with disabilities to look after various issues of specially-abled persons in the State.

“Many-a-times our specially-abled persons are running after different departments to get services which not only frustrate a differently-abled person but also it leaves them helpless. The Women and Child Welfare Department (WCD) is busy with women and child related issues, who will look after us? We are neglected by the department,” said Odisha State Disability Network convener Dr Sruti Mohapatra while briefing the Media in State level consultation on ‘United Voices for Disability Equity-II’.

She also said the WCD has work load which makes them busy, in which the voice of the specially-abled persons were being choked. Therefore, they need a special department like WCD, SC/ST department and others to look after their issues, she added.

“If the State Government will not set up the department before December 3 this year, we will take the matter to the streets. Persons with disabilities across the State will demonstrate, stage indefinite dharnas and even fast-unto-death to get their demand fulfilled,” she cautioned.

It may be noted that the United Voices for Disability Equity-I led to the establishment of ‘Office of Disability Commissioner’ in Odisha. But, later the specially-abled persons alleged the Directorate was not fruitful for them what they had expected from the department before its establishment.

Among others, K Anand Rao, former minister Ajay Jena, Kartik Chandra Pandab, Niranjan Behera and Satyanarayan Mishra were present in the State-level consultation.

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