New vision: Gene therapy that hopes to restore sight to the blind to be tested on humans

A new gene manipulation technique that hopes to restore sight to the visually impaired will be tested on humans in the next three years.

Research conducted at the University of Manchester has been licensed by US clinical-stage biotechnology company Acucela, which will develop and commercialize the therapy, starting human trials in the next three years.

The therapy is for the treatment of an inherited retinal condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa(RP), which affects one in 4,000 people in the US, Europe and Asia. There is currently no effective treatment for the degenerative disease which often begins in childhood.

It uses optogenetic technology, and involves the use of a specially designed virus to give the DNA instructions for the rhodopsin light-sensing protein into neurons in the inner nuclear layer of the retina.

The technology was previously tested on mice in trials led by Paul Bishop, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Manchester and proved to be effective at restoring a visual response in a mouse model of retinal degeneration.

It will now be studied across a variety of genetic mutations in RP and related conditions, with the ultimate aim to assess the ability of the process in restoring some level of vision in patients who are legally blind.

Professor Bishop told Optometry Today that the partnership with Acucela was very significant. “It would be very exciting to be able to offer them {his patients} the prospect of a treatment that will improve their vision,” he said.

CEO of Acucela, Dr. Ryo Kubota, said the development is considerable for patients “who have lost much of their vision as well as their hope”.

Source: RT , 16th April 2016 

Kajol from Fanaa: That's Yami Gautam's reference for her blind girl act in 'Kaabil'

Yami Gautam who will be seen opposite Hrithik Roshan in Kaabil next will essay the character of his blind girlfriend.

Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam are all set to start shooting for their next film together. Sanjay Gupta's Kaabil is produced by Papa Rakesh Roshan.

An action-oriented romantic thriller, Kaabil has all the potential ingredients to be a winner. From love to dialoguebaazi and of course stunts, this story of vendetta and vengeance will have Yami playing Hrithik's blind girlfriend who will be murdered by the villains, played by Rohit Roy and Ronit Roy. Hrithik too will play a blind person in the film, avenging his girlfriend's murder.

Now for a role like this, Yami has found a reference point. What? Kajol's blind act from Fanaa. Kajol had played Zooni to perfection in the YRF film that released about a decade ago. Confirming the same, Yami told in a statement, "I have always been a fan of Kajol Ma'am. The way she portrayed Zooni's character in 'Fanaa', is etched in my memory. I have watched the film several times and each time I have learnt something new from her performance."

Source : DNA India, 16th April 2016 

Indian Designer Invents Spill-Proof Cup For People With Parkinson’s

Inspired by an uncle diagnosed with Parkinson’s, Indian product designer Mileha Soneji has created several simple products to help people with the condition.
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Between 7 and 10 million people worldwide are living with Parkinson’s — a progressive disease that attacks the nervous system and causes tremors, impaired balance and stiffness, among other symptoms.

Soneji, who comes from the city of Pune in India, watched as her uncle — once a fun-loving and energetic figure in her life — deteriorated in health after his diagnosis.  

“He used to be the center of attention at all the family reunions, then he started to hide behind others,” Soneji told HuffPost France. “He hid from the pity he saw in people’s eyes.”

Soneji took time to interview her uncle and observed him to better appreciate the difficulties he faces on a daily basis. During one of their conversations, he confessed that he had stopped drinking tea or coffee in public out of embarrassment.

Technology isn’t always the solution.Mileha Soneji

That’s when the designer thought up the spill-proof cup. Her invention is curved inward at the top to deflect the liquid back inside the cup in the event of a tremor. It also has a larger-than-normal handle.

“The key here is that it is not tagged as a Parkinson’s patient product. It looks like a cup that could be used by you, me, any clumsy person,” Soneji said in a TED Talkin February 2015. “And that makes it much more comforting for them to use, to blend in.” 

Soneji plans to have the cup ready for sale on the No Spill website in the next six or seven months. Its price could deter some, however, as it’s projected to cost approximately 150 euros (about $170).

Mileha Soneji designed a cup to keep people who have shaky hands from spilling their beverages.

Soneji believes that empathy and imagination is key to a successful design.

“You have to imagine and create objects that meet the needs of people who are sick, who have disabilities,” she told HuffPost France. 

As she continued to observe her uncle, Soneji found an opportunity for yet another invention that would improve the quality of life of Parkinson’s patients.

She noticed that he found it easier to walk up or down the staircase in his home than on flat ground.

“So this person who could not walk on flat land was suddenly a pro at climbing stairs,” she said in her TED Talk. “On researching this, I realized that it’s because it is a continuous motion. So the key for me was to translate this feeling of walking on a staircase back to flat land.”

She played around with some ideas and finally landed on a simple two-dimensional representation of a staircase that can be glued to the ground to allow people with Parkinson’s to walk quicker and smoother. She calls it the “staircase illusion.”

“Technology isn’t always the solution,” Soneji told HuffPost France, explaining that the best solutions, in her experience, have been the simples.

Soneji now works in the Netherlands and is currently co-writing a paper on the “staircase illusion” with Bastiaan Bloem, a consultant neurologist at the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre. Bloem was charmed by Soneji’s staircase idea and plans to test it on more patients. Even though her uncle is the only patient so far who has tried and benefited from the “staircase illusion,” Soneji hopes her designs will improve many more lives. 

Source : Huffington Post , 14th April 2016 

Govt of India to train 25 lakh persons with disabilities in 7 years: Thaawar Chand Gehlot

India hosts 200 people with disabilities from 70 countries for disability inclusive Sustainable Development Goals.





Are developing countries ready for a disability inclusive agenda for development? This is the question over 200 people with disabilities from over 70 countries from Asia, Africa, CIS, Latin America, and North America & Caribbean are asking at the 9th World Assembly of Disabled People’s International (DPI) here. DPI is the world’s first cross-disability human rights based global disabled people’s organisation with membership in 150 countries. 



The theme of the Assembly is ‘Building Human Capital – Realizing the SDGs for Persons with Disabilities’’.



WHO and the World Bank estimate that one billion people in the world live with a disability. Of this, as many as 800 million live in the developing countries – or the Global South.  Moreover, 20 percent of the world’s poorest are people with disabilities. Amidst this, the world has now embarked on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development or the SDGs. The SDGs aim to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. Disability is mentioned specifically at seven places.



Speaking at the opening of the Assembly, Thaawar Chand Gehlot, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment said that the government of India is committed to the cause of disability and it is reflected by the Prime Minister’s personal interest in the issues. Prime Minister Modi, in a message that was read out, said, “India believes in the principles of inclusion and integration. It stems from the Indian philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – that the whole world is our family – a philosophy that transcends all life forms, including our environment. Disabled people constitute a significant portion of the population of India and their need for meaningful employment largely remains unmet.The Govt of India has targeted training 25 lac PWDs (Persons with disabilities) in the next 7 years”



“People are hindered to live a full life because of society. Surely, as we age, all of us will be disabled. This is about all of us, and not about the disabled,“ said Ambassador Luis Gallegos, former Permanent Representative of Ecuador to the UN in both New York and Geneva. He was also chair of the ad-hoc committee that drafted the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 



The importance of ensuring that people with disabilities are empowered to advocate for disability inclusibve SDGs is also because focus of implementation for these goals will be at the national level. Grassroots leaders need to have both adequate information and tools to advocate for disability inclusive SDGs. A recent study by DPI and the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict) shows that 78 percent of Global South countries do not collect any data on disability related to the SDGs. The study found significant gaps exist among the majority of Global South countries with respect to their readiness and preparedness for impementing, monitoring, and reporting on key SDGs.



If people with disabilities are to monitor whether development programmes in their countries are inclusive of disability or not, it is important to develop their capacity to advocate for disability data collection and disability data disaggregation.



“DPI is also the only organisation with such an expansive reach. DPI's 9th World Assembly will leverage this huge human capital that DPI commands to steer the global disability movement towards a stronger grassroots based movement. DPI's 9th World Assembly is therefore built around the crucial questions of access, knowledge transfer, monitoring and self-determination and representation in the 2030 Agenda process as well as in other human rights processes,” said Javed Abidi, Global Chair of DPI and Director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP).



A training of disabled leaders on promoting inclusive ICT policies was also organised by G3ict and BarrierBreak.










Source : The Hans India, 12th April 2016 

Physically challenged citizens need to be included in Pakistan’s urban planning - LAHORE

The steady progress of Pakistan’s real estate sector has continued for a number of years now. Dozens of housing and commercial projects are launched each month for all cadres of international and domestic investors that are helping this sector become one the most rewarding investment option in the country.

Over the years, Pakistan has become home to ambitious projects by international developers and one-of-a-kind offerings in housing societies by seasoned local developers; and such is the dynamism of the sector that some developers are even going as far as promising guaranteed rental returns to prospective investors.

Though these uber-endowed realty projects are beginning to offer luxuries like sprawling golf courses, sports arenas and theme parks, they are yet to include the needs of an oft ignored, but vital segment of the society in their plans: the physically challenged.

Lost in the bustle

Pakistan is among the few unfortunate countries in the world still plagued by polio disease and new cases are but common news for countrymen. Yet surprisingly, little has been seen done in both the public and private spheres that makes one believe this important segment of our population is included in mega plans.

The hallmark of a great society has to be its superior treatment of the less fortunate lot and Pakistan lags behind by far on this account. Be it parking lots or shopping marts, restaurants or mega malls, architectural planning in other parts of the world leaves little to be desired when it comes to the needs physically challenged individuals. There dedicated parking spots, lavatories and toilets, road crossings and even elevators for facilitating people who are physically challenged, but urban planning in Pakistan seems oblivious to their existence.

Social contract?

The creation of an inclusive society with a disadvantage of physical shortcomings, nobody is perhaps becoming too much to ask for in Pakistan. Although the state is spending millions of rupees on outward beautification of cities, issues like the needs of physically challenged sadly remain unaddressed.

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There is a growing need to cater to the needs of physically challenged people in architectural planning in public and private sector

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Lahore’s Metro bus project is a case in point. Although it has provided a cheap medium of transport for thousands of commuters in Lahore, the service could have been improved by taking into account the needs of those with physical disabilities. Elevators, or at least ramps, could have been introduced for access to the service by people on wheelchairs. Many important public buildings and parks, impressive as they are, have failed to incorporate designs that make access for individuals with physical challenges an easy feat.

Certainly, many of us have assisted – or at least witnessed – a person with a loved one on a wheelchair negotiate a flight of stairs leading up to a public or private office. Such scenes are highly disturbing and agonizing, both for the person with the disability and his or her assistant. It not only shatters a citizen’s confidence in provisions by the state, but has profound effects on the challenged person’s self-esteem as well.

Improper infrastructure and architectural provisions mean people with disabilities are being omitted as productive members of the Pakistani society, leading to a 4.9-6.3% reduction in the country’s GDP, according to a research conducted by the British Council in 2014.

Doable

Zeeshan Ali Khan, CEO of property portal Zameen.com, said although he had seen hundreds of realty project launches over the years, projects that are planned to suit the needs of physically challenged individuals have been few and far between.

“Physically challenged people are as important members of a society as anyone else and are playing an important role in the country’s growth when given the right opportunities. I think designing projects that take needs of all sections of the society into account is not just a social responsibility on part of architects, builders and developers, it can certainly make the project attractive to a wider pool of buyers,” Khan added.

Keeping the promise undertaken in the social contract is the responsibility of not just public authorities, but also private real state developers who promise ‘deal of the century’.

City planners, architects and policy makers need to encourage designs that serve all, in order that our country becomes truly beautiful inside out.

Source : Daily Pakistan , 14th April 2016 

Final voters roll in a week, says CEO Rajesh Lakhoni

More than 3.7 lakh names have been deleted from the voters roll so far and with the Election Commission intensifying corrections related to voters list, more names will be deleted ahead of Assembly polls, Chief Electoral Officer Rajesh Lakhoni said on Tuesday.

Political parties have submitted representations informing double entries and bogus names with invalid data. All such complaints are being attended and the ongoing process of cleansing the voters roll will continue till the end of this month, Lakhoni told DC. Through computerised corrections, 1.80 lakh double entries have been deleted. In case of deaths after verification, 1.90 lakh names have been dropped from the list.

In the meantime, names of those who are above 18 years of age are also being added to the voters roll. Since last month, about 62,000 physically challenged persons have been added. Special efforts are also made for this election to ensure that all booths are friendly for aged and physically challenged, he said.

Online complaints seeking corrections in voters roll is also picking up and 85,000 deletion requests are now under scrutiny with the Commission and phone complaints received through 1950 is also addressed in a phased manner, he said.

In a week’s time, the public (election) department will be ready with the final voters roll and the ongoing issue of new voter identity cards in the five flood- affected districts including Chennai, Cuddalore and Kancheepuram is nearing completion.

Issues pertaining to polls like provision of additional para military force, augmentation of facilities at the existing polling booths and meeting with five district Collectors on poll arrangements are also scheduled for the next few days, the CEO added.

Source : Deccan Chronicle , 24th Feb 2016

All for a solid start - HYDERABAD

Twenty two-year old Akshay Gunteti is on a 30-city Indian Startup tour across the country to help emerging firms

Akshay Gunteti, a 22-year-old Khammam-based entrepreneur and curator of the Indian Startup Tour, is all set to cycle his way across 30 cities in the country, from Raheja Mindspace in Hyderabad to Jammu over the next one year.

He’s doing this to document the challenges being faced by Indian startups, to talk to them, make them more aware of the ecosystem they’re surrounded by, taking several parameters into consideration including the region's cost-of-living, the legal framework, and the governmental schemes that can come to their aid.

“This is a country that has policies favouring the MNCs more than the startups. Many entrepreneurs have an interesting idea, make mistakes and give up rather easily. I want them to speak up, so that others can learn from their experience. Most companies don’t know the legalities that exist, the terms they need to maintain with the investors, the documentation aspects with respect to agreements too. I’ll also be conducting workshops in all the places I travel and organise ideation programs,” says the ambitious youngster, full of energy.

“Israel, a country booming with startups, boasts of a greater GDP than ours. We score better in the number of startups, then why are we falling short?” he asks, as if to explain another reason for this tour.

Every place that Akshay travels, he emphasises the need for the communities to get involved rather than depending on government support. On the back-end, he’s also receiving help from his co-curator Nidhiya V Raj, who’ll be providing him crucial connections and readying schedules from time to time. “I’m planning to write blogs and ask people to share the data with those who can help. There’s no political colour to this,” he assures and is thinking of visiting villages that are close to the city too.

The time he plans to stay in each place, depends on the number of startups in the area. He’ll prepare weekly reports and has ideas to start a Youtube channel to record his live experiences. Akshay plans to make this a ready-reckoner guide before entrepreneurs can make their idea a reality.

Akshay is well aware of the challenges ahead. On an average he needs to cycle 100 km a day to stick to his schedule, and intends to spend Rs 150-200 from his pocket, a day.

“I also need to pay my staff who’ll be working through the year. I’m expecting people to join, volunteer and help me through this. I'll rely on them for accommodation. I have received several funding offers but I’m not doing this for commercial interests. I’m living my entrepreneurial dream well but I wanted to do something to better the startup atmosphere ,” he says.

Akshay was shocked to face a lot of detractors, who had suspected his capabilities to take on the initiative. Besides strong support from his parents who were only concerned about his health, one incident provided him the impetus for the tour.

“A physically challenged person mentioned that I was living his dream of travelling across cities and making a difference. Just that his impairment didn’t give him a chance to do so. He wanted me to just go ahead. Out of the thousands I’m about to meet, I hope to motivate at least a few hundreds.”

Source : The Hindu , 25th Feb 2016 

Govt. to recognise diploma course for trainers of mentally challenged - MANGALURU

Students of Saannidhya school for special children performing at a function in Mangaluru on Wednesday.

Govindaraju, Director, Department for the Empowerment of Differently-Abled and Senior Citizens, has said that the State government will recognise the six-month diploma course on vocational skills for trainers of mentally challenged.

The Karnataka State Association of Special Educators have been demanding recognition for the six-month diploma course run by the unit of Centre for Continuing Technical Education in Karnataka of the Department of Technical Education in Government Women’s Polytechnic at the Saanidhya Residential School. This course is meant to enable trainers with skills that help them to provide mentally and physically challenged children vocational skills.

Though two batches of trainers have passed out, this course was yet to be recognised by the State government. The Government Women’s Polytechnic’s principal B.N. Kumbar said that there had been no response from the Department for Empowerment of Differently-Abled to his letter written in June 2015 in this regard.

Mr. Govindaraju has claimed that the department has initiated the process of recognising this course. The department would lay down, among others, the qualification, infrastructure, fee and vocational skills for the course. “I have initiated discussions with stakeholders. The government is committed to recognising this course,” he said.

Administrator of Saanidhya Residential School Vasanth Kumar Shetty said the diploma course for the trainers had been designed on the curriculum of National Institute of Mentally Handicapped in Hyderabad. So far as many as 44 persons have completed the course so far.

Candidates, who have completed the course, said the course had brought change in the way they take care of children. “All the while, we only took care of these children’s day-to-day needs. Now we can teach them candle making, envelope making and other skills that makes children self reliant. This is much needed for these children,” said S.M. Kallimath, a teacher associated with the Bapuji Residential School of Mentally Challenged Children in Gajendragad for over 20 years.

Mr. Kallimath and 21 other candidates on Wednesday received certificates for completing the course in December 2015.

Source : The Hindu , 25th Feb 2016 

Bodybuilding competition in Udupi - Karnataka

E-Fitness and the Association of Bodybuilders, Udupi, will organise a State-level bodybuilding competition titled ‘Mr. Karnataka – 2016’ at the Shamili Auditorium here on February 27.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, John Rebello, working president of the Karnataka Association of Bodybuilders, said that there would be competitions in body weight categories of 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, and above 85 kg. The first five winners in each category will be given a cash prize of Rs. 25,000.

The first prize winner of every category would qualify for ‘Mr. Karnataka – 2016’ title round. The title winner would get a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh and a trophy. The runner-up will get Rs. 40,000 in cash and a trophy. Men aged above 40 could compete in the masters category, which would be further divided into three groups – 40-50, 50-60, and above 60. The first five winners of each category would be awarded with Rs. 25,000 in each category. The master title winner would be awarded Rs. 25,000 and a trophy.

The competition for the physically challenged would be held in two categories – below 60 kg and above 60 kg. The first winner of each category will be awarded Rs. 22,000, while the title winner will get a cash prize of Rs. 10,000. There will be a best poser competition and the winner would get Rs. 10,000.

The ‘Mr. Udupi – 2016’ district-level body building competition would be held at the same venue at 10.30 a.m. The first five winners of each category would be eligible for ‘Mr. Karnataka – 2016’ State-level bodybuilding competition. The first winners in each category of Mr. Udupi would get certificates, while the top three would get gold, silver and bronze medals, respectively. The ‘Mr. Udupi’ title winner and the runner-up will be awarded trophies, Mr. Rebello said.

Source : The Hindu , 25th Feb 2016 

‘Aashayein’ to motivate the challenged ones - HUBBALLI

Members of the Aashraya Foundation, all college students, briefing press persons in Hubballi on Wednesday about the event they have organised to motivate physically challenged children

The zeal to give back something to society has made a group of young students from Hubballi to come up with an event to motivate the physically and mentally challenged children.

What started as a small initiative by a group of 20 students has now taken the shape of a foundation, which they have named as Aashraya Foundation. Having registered their foundation, they have now roped in Vinod Thakur, fondly known as the Legless Break Dancer, to perform here to motivate other physically challenged children.

Aashraya Foundation president Rohit Bhandari, secretary Kishan Kataria and member Pankaj Sharma told presspersons here on Wednesday that 4,000 persons, a majority of them physically and mentally challenged, and from orphanages, would participate in the event called “Aashayein” to be held at Railway Ground in Hubballi on February 27 at 4 p.m.

Mr. Kishan Kataria said that five or six troupes of physically challenged children would perform during the event. In addition to Mr Vinod Thakur, entertainer Saravana Dhanapal from Bengaluru would perform during the show.

Mr. Rohit Bhandari said that they planned to donate a laptop to a visually impaired student preparing for competitive examinations during the event, which was open for all.

The group members have a plan to launch a “Blood App” for helping needy patients to get blood immediately. “We have a database of 1,000 voluntary blood donors,” they said.

Source : The Hindu, 25th Feb 2016 

'Use of tech may help living of physically-challenged people' - BANGLADESH

Speakers at a workshop said on Wednesday the use of technology may help living of physically-challenged people.

The speakers made the comments while addressing the closing ceremony of a workshop on "Promoting Persons with Disabilities through Participation in Media" organised by Institute of Communication Studies (ICS) with the assistance of European Union (EU) and Sightsavers, an international non-governmental organisation at BRAC Centre Inn in the city on Wednesday.

Dr Mashiur Rahman, economic adviser to the Prime Minister, attended the function as the chief guest while Chief Information Commissioner Prof Dr M Golam Rahman was the guest of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Mashiur said: "Technology facilitates human's life in almost every aspect. And so, there are many devices that could help a disabled person to overcome the respective constraint." Encouraging the participants, he said a physically disabled person cannot impede an individual, if he exploits his intelligence with sufficient effort.

Underscoring the equal rights of everybody in the society, Dr M Golam Rahman said: "Creating separate identity for the handicapped people enlarges the gap between them and the other people." "The disability, actually, exists in our mind; not in our body" he said.

According to the organiser, some 20 people with several sorts of disabilities attended the month-long training course on journalism. Nearly half of them are now doing internship with several media houses.

Source : Financial Express , 25th Feb 2016

Residents set high hopes on Rail Budget

Residents have pinned high hopes on the Union Rail Budget which is scheduled to be presented tomorrow in the Lok Sabha by Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu.

Residents’ wishlist that include regularisation of the Bathinda-New Delhi Shatabdi Express, Banaras special train and Nanded Express, starting of new trains, extension of washing line and initiation work on the Takth Damdama Sahib-Rama Mandi link that was announced in the previous rail budget, is endless.

Residents have demanded that the 13111 Lal Quila Express, 12451 Shram Shakti Express, 12559 Shivganga Express and 12555 Gorakhdham Express be extended to Bathinda from Delhi. As these trains remained stationed at Delhi for a long time, hence, these can be extended to Bathinda.

Mahesh Kumar, a city resident, said these long route trains should be extended to Bathinda as there were a large number of passengers in the city who change trains from Delhi for their further journey and the move would provide a relief to them as in that case they had to board only one train.

Poor connectivity

Poor rail connectivity of the Malwa region with the rest of the state is hampering the development of the region. Several proposals forwarded in the past have not been implemented. More trains between Bathinda to Amritsar and Ludhiana should be started.

Sukhdeep Singh, a trader, said there was a need to increase trains between Bathinda and the major cities of the state. The railway minister must announce more trains to improve railway connectivity between Bathinda to Amritsar and Ludhiana. Many passengers had to travel to these major cities of the state from the city, but due to less connectivity, they had to travel by bus.

Change in time sought

Passengers are also demanding that the scheduled time of the Shatabdi Express should be changed as it should depart from Bathinda to Delhi in the morning and it should return to Bathinda from Delhi in the evening. At present it runs from Delhi for the city at 9 am and then leaves for Delhi from Bathinda in the evening at 4.15 pm on two days (Monday and Saturday) only.

Dr Ajay Garg, another resident, said Shatabdi Express had failed to get a lukewarm response as the timings of the train were not suitable as instead of running from Delhi at 9 am, it should have gone from Bathinda at 6 am and in the evening it should depart from Delhi for Bathinda, then it would have benefited traders in the city.

Basic amenities needed

There are no ramps on any of platforms for physically challenged. The foot overbridge does not have the ramp facility which can be used by physically challenged to ride their tricycles. The steep flight of stairs on the foot overbridge is impossible to ascend due to which it is difficult for the physically challenged and elderly to reach platforms for boarding a train.

Even no wheelchair or stretcher is available at the railway station, particularly during night hours for the physically challenged, sick and senior citizens to board the train.

Gurmeet Singh, resident, said the railway minister must take the initiative in the Budget to uplift facilities and security for passengers at the station and on trains as well.

Separate women coaches

Residents have also demanded to introduce seperate coaches for women in trains. Atul Garg, a local resident, said many a times women travel alone. If there are separate coaches for women, then it will provide safety to them.

Many states have set up separate departments to look after the pace of rail projects, but Punjab does not have a separate department for the purpose.

Source : The Tribune , 24th Feb 2016 

 

Unfriendly workplaces for PWDs

Employers should overcome mental barriers

There are ample researches and reports that clearly show that people with disabilities (PWDs) are not inefficient, rather our workplaces are poorly equipped to accommodate physically challenged people. Generally, PWDs are dedicated to their work and waste very little time in their workplace.

Lack of adequate transport, ramps, lifts and PWD friendly communication facilities hinders PWDs' access to workplaces. Most importantly, it is the mindset of the employers that is barring PWDs from getting decent jobs. Even the 10 percent quota reserved for PWDs remains unfulfilled. Being unemployed, most of them have to sit idle at home that only exacerbates their woes. If a PWD gets a decent job it contributes to the well-being of the family as well as to the economy. So we should consider it not only as a social responsibility but also an economic opportunity.

PWDs should be given the work they are comfortable with. The workplace should be constructed following the global standards to facilitate their access. There are many PWD friendly software and technologies, most of them are free, that need to be installed in the workplaces. Both the government and non-government bodies have to invest more in this regard. We should provide proper training to PWDs so that they can compete in the job market. The employers need to be made aware of the fact that PWDs are not a burden but a potential source of skilled workforce.

Source : The Daily Star , 25th Feb 2016

Frustrated, post-graduate returns all his certificates

A physically challenged man with sound higher education in Lalmonirhat returned all his academic certificates to the government yesterday.

Frustrated for not getting any government jobs, physically challenged Mahafuzar Rahman of Lalmonirhat returned all his academic certificates to the government on Tuesday.

Mahafuzar Rahman, 35, did so out of frustration over not getting any government jobs despite trying for years.

With no use of his right hand since birth, Mahafuzar struggled a lot to achieve the certificates.

Yesterday, he returned his certificates to the Lalmonirhat deputy commissioner. On behalf of the DC, Additional Deputy Commissioner Rezaul Alam Sarker received the certificates.

“I returned all my academic certificates to the government, as these certificates didn't help me get a job,” said Mahafuzar of Teesta Ratipur village in Sadar upazila.

“The certificates had become a burden for me, so I returned them to the government.”

“I applied for a job in several government departments over the last few years but didn't get any,” he said.

The last time Mahafuzar applied for a government job was in October 2012. He sat for a written test and faced a viva-voce for the post of a teacher in primary school.

“I qualified for the written test and took the viva-voce test too. But I was not selected,” he said. He claimed that the recruitment board did not follow the quota for people with disabilities.

Mahafuzar urged the government to ensure jobs for the disabled who are educated.

He said he was feeling better after returning the certificates.

“I will earn my livelihood by giving private lessons to students of my village. If that is not possible, I will start grocery business,” Mahafuzar said.

His wife Nasrin Nahar Lucky, 27, who completed master's from Rangpur Begum Rokeya University, said her husband got extremely disappointed after he was not selected for the primary school job.

“My husband did the right thing [by returning his certificates],” she said.

Mahafuzar's father Syed Ali, a retired schoolteacher, echoed Nasrin.

Third among five siblings, Mahfuzur was the most brilliant student among them. His elder brother, Jahangir Alam, is a lecturer at a local college, and another brother is a businessman, family members said.

Mahafuzar passed SSC in 1998 and HSC in 2001 from two institutions under Rajshahi board and secured first division in both the examinations. He completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in business studies in 2005 and 2006 from Rangpur Carmichael College and got second class in both.

In 2007, he got registered as a physically disabled man with Lalmonirhat Social Welfare Department and his registration number is Lal/29.

Shamiul Islam, deputy director of Social Welfare Department in Lalmonirhat, said, “We only issue certificates to the disabled, and the recruitment boards check the certificates.”

ADC Rezaul Alam said he received Mahafuzar's certificates along with an application with the DC's permission. “These certificates and the application will be sent to the higher authorities concerned.”

Source : The Daily Star , 25th Feb 2016