SHILLONG:
President of Khasi Disabilities Association (KDA) Starwin Kharjana, on March 22, said that the office of the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) has sent a letter to all Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to choose between availing the chief minister’s assistance or the unemployment allowance.
The PWDs get Rs 500 as chief minister’s assistance and Rs 1000 as unemployment allowance from the Social Welfare department.
“This is outright harassment. It has been difficult for them to survive on Rs 1000 or Rs 500. We have also been demanding enhancement for the unemployment allowance to Rs 5000,” Kharjana said, adding that the government has not implemented the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
He further alleged that one MLA from East Khasi Hills have insulted the visually impaired. “They (the visually impaired) visited this MLA only to be told, ‘I am unable to help people who can see, how can I help the blind?’ These are the exact words the MLA used,” he said, refuting to divulge the name of the legislator. “The PWDs will have a meeting with the said MLA before the 2023 polls and will reveal everything,” he said.
Meanwhile, a delegation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) will be meeting chief minister Conrad Sangma on April 30 to urge the government to look into the their problems and issues with thrust on accessible transportation in Shillong.
Informing this, research scholar of the the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) Ferdinand Lyngdoh Marshillong said, “Many roads are not accessible for the PWDs, even vehicles have no facilities. We urge the government to address our grievances as many PWDs do not want to leave their homes due to accessibility issues. We also want to be part of the society, especially at a time when the state is celebrating its 50 years.”
Some of the issues that the PWDs wished to be taken up are – concession rates after the PWD produces his/her Unique Disability ID (UDID), accessible public transport vehicles, assisted rides on public transit, signage on buses, local taxis, tourist to show the route of travelling and signage on government and private buildings, wider roads and cover all drainage that post a problem for all the citizens, he said.