There is little understanding among Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) members on RPwD Act. Thus the PRIs must be oriented on the Act as well as on accessible WASH facilities for PwDs, said Minister of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disability Department (SSEPD) Prafulla Samal.

He was addressing the inaugural session of the two-day state level workshop on “Right to access of water and sanitation facility in institutions, communities and individual households for persons with disabilities” organised here by PragatiJubak Sangha and Odisha Vikalanga Mancha (A State level forum for PwDs) in collaboration with WaterAid here.

Asserting that the PwDs are inclusive part of the society and any facilities created by the Government should be accessible to them, he urged that the recommendation emerging from the workshop should also be shared with Chief Secretary of Odisha for action.

The Minister also suggested that the National Career Service Centre for the Differently Abled” should be an one-spot solution centre for PwDs.

Others who spoke on the occasion include State Commissioner for PwDs Dr Minati Behera, Assistant Director, VRCH RK Sharma, Sudeshna Mishra from ActionAid, AniePatri from Handicap Internation, Purna Chandra Mohanty and Bikash Kumar Pati from WaterAid, Debabrata Dash of PragatiJubak Sangha, Sanyas Behera from DSSO Headquarters along with experts in the sector like Tapan Padhi and Bimal Pandia.

It was stated that the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services are not accessible for the PwDs due to lack of universal design and provision for additional budget requirement.

 This is high time to make the WASH programme PwDs-friendly. Inclusive WASH programme will enable to mainstreaming the disability issue and enhancing the dignified life of every individual person with disability, the speakers said.

There were more than 100 PwDs representing district and State chapters of Odisha Vikalanga Mancha who participated.