The district unit of the Odisha Bikalanga Manch under
the leadership of its president Rakesh Himirika and secretary Jalandhar
Bacheli has submitted a memorandum to the Governor to appoint a
person with disability (PwD) as the State Disability Commissioner, a
post which is lying vacant after Sulochana Das resigned from it and took
over as the Bhubaneswar Mayor.
“If a woman becomes the Woman Commissioner, a Dalit becomes SC
Commissioner, an Adivasi becomes ST Commissioner then why a PwD
will not be appointed as Disability Commissioner”, asked Himirika.
According to Bacheli, “There are competent and deserving PwDs in
Odisha for the above-said post having the expertise, proficiency and vast
experience in working with Dibyangs. We expect that if such a PwD is
appointed for this post, she/he will be empathetic to the cause of the
Dibyangs.”
The memorandum requested the Governor to direct the State
Government to appoint a deserving Dibyang with requisite eligibility as
per gazette notification No 1432 dated 31-8-2017 published by the
Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities. The demand has been supported by Samdrushti and
Kshamata Vikas Evam Anusandhan Mandal.