GUWAHATI, June 18 - A sensitisation programme on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act- 2016 was organised by the Assam State Legal Services Authority (ASLSA) in collaboration with Shishu Sarothi here recently for members of the Juvenile Justice Board, Child Welfare Committee, Protection Officers (Institutional and Non-institutional Care), and secretaries of District Legal Services Authorities from five districts of Kamrup, Nalbari, Darrang, Morigaon and Nagaon.
Inspectors of Police, CID, Assam, Special Educator from NIPCCD and Counsellor from Childline, officials from ASLSA, Social Welfare Department and Assam State Child Protection Society also participated in the programme.
In his inaugural speech, SN Sarma, Member Secretary, ASLSA, highlighted the importance of upholding the rights of persons with disabilities as envisaged under the law if one has to ensure that no one is left behind in the process of development.
SS Meenakshi Sundaram, Secretary, Social Welfare, who was the chief guest on the occasion, emphasised the importance of government functionaries being aware of the rights of persons with disabilities and the corresponding accountability of duty-bearers to ensure those rights.
The event made an endeavour to create awareness amongst the stakeholders concerned on the rights of persons with disabilities and more specifically, on the rights of children with disabilities.
In the introductory session on �Understanding Disability�, Arman Ali, executive director, Shishu Sarothi, spoke of the paradigm shift in how disability is understood in the present human rights framework. �In moving away from the welfare and charity approach to disability, we have to acknowledge that disability arises when a person with long-term impairment � physical, mental, sensory or intellectual � is faced with barriers in the environment which hinders his or her full participation on an equal basis with others,� Ali said.
PR Gharphalia, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities spoke of the provisions of the RPD Act along with the procedure for acquiring a disability certificate. He also informed the gathering of the UDID (Unique Identification for Disabled People) process which is in the pipeline to bring forth a platform of unique identification for people with disabilities which can be accessed anywhere across the country.
Amvalika Senapati, coordinator, Disability Law Unit, Shishu Sarothi, gave an overview of the RPD Act and dealt at length with the provisions of the Act vis-�-vis rights of children with disabilities.
Various issues and challenges of children with disabilities in the areas of protection, health, education and social and cultural rights were discussed, with insights into practical situations across districts.
