“I once met a physically challenged bank officer, known and respected by everyone in his office in Delhi. He was married and the sole earner of his family. As father of a physically challenged boy, I wished my son could also lead a life on his own like the officer,” said David Sha, a Poumai church leader. The population of physically or intellectually disabled persons in Nagaland has been sidelined by the Government. Though organizations like Special Olympics Nagaland (SON) have trained and groomed many disabled youth, several from the rural interiors of Nagaland remain unacknowledged.
The Government of Nagaland’s poor outreach towards people with disabilities has left them, and their families, helpless. David Sha added, “My son studied a few courses in Delhi and won prizes in Basketball and painting at state level competitions. We have spent a lot on him—his hard work and achievements have made us proud but even after all this, he is unemployed. There is no separate office or information centre, where we could get some information about facilities. I go from one office to another, only to be referred to another. At the end of the day, all that was of no use.”
In 50 years of its statehood, Nagaland has been unable to create a scheme or a fund pool for disabled students. Zaveyi Nyekha, Director School Education, Nagaland, noted, “As of now, we have been unsuccessful in identifying students with disabilities at a district level. We have around fourteen disability schools in Kohima, and sometimes we have provided them with Rs. 1 lakh to provide special training to teachers in such schools. The idea of dealing with disabled students in Nagaland is still very vague and our efforts have been insignificant. We too are helpless as there is no special financial assistance for them.”
Organisations like SON have a similar story. Even when they find efficient students and train them in sports and athletics, they run out of funds to sponsor them. “We expect some government aid for the students to compete at international levels. We have had many winners from Nagaland at many international competitions but now it is getting difficult for us to raise funds or sponsor them. They come with huge expectations and to leave them without anything is disheartening,” said Victor from SON.
Compared with neighbouring states like Assam or Manipur, the Government of Nagaland has not created employment opportunities for disabled persons. Heling Eeliang, an agitated father said, “My daughter is deaf and mute but she studies in a normal school with no special teachers to train her. The Government of Nagaland has never come to assist people with disabilities. There is no separate cell and no separate allotment for our children in the State. I want my daughter to be an employed woman in Dimapur as I am too scared to send her out, but the State has given us very poor response. Hence, we have lost our hopes.”
A year back, Nagaland State realized the need for a special disability commissioner. Dr. Atha Vizol, State Disability Commissioner said, “It has only been a year since I joined the office as a Disability Commissioner but I don’t have any staff till date. The scholarships allotted to students and other people with disability are not very clear till date as the department (sic) is in its initial stage. I have had meetings with a number NGOs and requested them to help and train people with disabilities.”
On May 9 this year, Don Bosco Tech’s certification courses included four physically challenged students. They were given domain specific training in hospitality, industrial sewing machine operation, beauty and spa, electrical welding etc. Brother Sunny of Don Bosco said, “This is a first of its kind initiative in Nagaland. Most of our students are placed but the corporate are reluctant to take the physically challenged students. So we look forward to local companies who can employ them and help them to earn a living.”
Sangtemjungshi Longkumer, a police officer said, “My son, Maongkaba, is fortunate to undergo this type of a training. Now I am slightly confident about his future but I feel the Government should come forward to help people with disabilities. It is disheartening to see our children suffer due to their disability while others like them in the neighboring states are government employed.”
Arya Lakshmi studies journalism at the Madras Christian College, and is currently an intern at The Morung Express
Source : The Morung Express , 28th May 2014
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