IMPHAL, Dec 23 : The regional workshop on disability here has recommended an alternative suitable motorised tri-cycle instead of hand driver tri-cycles for hilly terrain in the North East.
The National Human Rights Commission, Manipur Human Rights Commission and Government of Manipur sponsored workshop on disability for Northeastern region which concludes here recently felt that the hand driven tri-cycle is not suitable for hilly terrain in NE.
“So it is required to revise the provisions of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to provide motorised tri-cycles which are suitable in the region”, it recommended.
All States must evolve a State policy for persons with disabilities covering inter alia education, employment, barrier free environment, services, etc., it further recommends.
Asking all the states to undertake surveys as required under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan regarding the category- wise enrollment of children with disabilities, etc., it also recommends implementation of the Section 26 to 31 and Section 30 of the Persons with Disabilities Act (PDW Act) 1995 to ensure that education is provided to all children and persons with disabilities.
“Data gaps which presently exist in Northeastern States on the enrollment of children with disabilities in education must be remedied. They must make systematic efforts to collect relevant information and compile it and take consequent policy steps”, it felt.
In it’s recommendations, it said the right to life with dignity had no meaning without provision of education to persons with disabilities adding “there is a need to sensitize children on disability by including it in the school syllabus in an appropriate manner”.
“Steps must be taken immediately to implement provisions in the PDW Act as three per cent reservation in government jobs, poverty alleviation schemes is dismal in all the NE States, it felt.
In the light of the ratification of UN Convention on rights of persons with disabilities (CRPD) by the Government of India, there is a need to harmonise domestic laws with CRPD by implementation, monitoring and review processes.