World
Disability Day 2010 in Ladakh
Report
by Stanzin Chockla
World
Disability Day 2010 is celebrated on Dec 3. On this World disability
day certain events and rallies will be conducted to encourage the
disabled persons both physically and mentally as India is home to
60 million disabled people. Of them, 48 percent are visually impaired,
28 percent are movement impaired, 14 percent are mentally disabled
and 10 percent have hearing and speech disabilities. These are the
findings of 'People with Disabilities in India: From Commitments to
Outcomes,' a report prepared by the World Bank in collaboration with
the ministry of social justice and empowerment. Check out here for
World disability day certain events and rally's details conducted
in various places.
However, NGOs say that the numbers will be much more once the 2011
census is completed.
'There needs to be an attitudinal change in the community. Just like
you have physical ramps which help the physically disabled to go to
an escalated height, we have to do a mental ramping for people to
integrate the disabled population with the mainstream society,' said
Rewa Society. Rewa Society (a branch of German NGO brought to Leh
Ladakh with the courtesy of Karola- a German physical therapist and
Colleagues) and it is an NGO working for children and young adults
with Neurological Impairment in Ladakh. As part of the disability
movement, Rewa Society have been successful in getting the question
on disability revised and are now working on training and sensitization
of enumerators and also awareness among disabled people and people
of Ladakh region.
The body led 'Rewa- a hope' aimed at encouraging people to answer
the questions on disability and to minimize it to the most possible
way.
'People generally don't mind telling you that their neighbor has a
disabled member in the family, but will shy away to admit that one
of their own members is differently able. There is a kind of shame
in admitting that. Even doctors try to 'treat' disabled people, making
them feel like they are suffering from some disease,' she added. Many
persons with disabilities continue to face barriers to their participation
in their communities and are often forced to live on the margins of
society. They often face stigma and discrimination and are routinely
denied basic rights such as food, education, employment, access to
health and reproductive health services. Many persons with disabilities
are also forced into institutions, a direct breach of the rights to
freedom of movement and to live in their communities.
It is an important day for the 70 million people with disabilities
in India as well as so many more all over the world. Some progress
has been made in the area of disability in India in the last few years
especially in the last 1 year. India ratified the United Nations Convention
on the Rights of People with Disabilities and also the XIth Five year
plan has included Disability for the first time in the History of
India. However, talking about it and implementing it are two completely
different things. NO steps have been taken by the Government of India
to implement them. Even the basic rights of education, employment
and access are not available to people with disability.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities is being observed today
in Rewa. The objective is to promote rights of disabled people by
including them in every aspect of political, social, economic and
cultural life.
Today on 3rd December 2010 Rewa Society as to celebrate the world
disability day bought all their specially able children along with
their parents to Rewa Society together, initiating their day with
some songs, than continuing their day with games, some dance, paintings
and they were served tea, samosa and biscuits and Rewa also had some
visitors from the Islamic public school.
To catch these nostalgic moments a cameraman from Dordarshan also
attended the programme and interviewed the president (Mr. David Sonam)
and the manager (Mrs. Dolker Palu) of Rewa Society Leh Ladakh and
some of the especially able parents.
At the end the children were presented with gifts and prayers of hope
that they enjoy their life to their most possible ability.
The Organization's commitment to the full and equal enjoyment of all
human rights by persons with disabilities is deeply rooted in a quest
for social justice and equity in all aspects of societal development
with the help of therapy (physical, occupational and speech) and also
financially if required (medical and education both) and now soon
will hopefully extend it branch to Kargil district of Ladakh.
Venue:
Rewa Society Leh Ladakh .Jammu and Kashmir, India.
Date: 3rd December 2010
Time: 10 am - 2 pm
