Time has come for a change in the attitudes towards children and persons with disabilities (PWDs). let us be committed to secure a better life for them,” said Governor SC Jamir while releasing the Unicef’s annual report ‘The State of the World’s Children 2013’ in the State on Thursday.
This year, the Unicef report, which was launched globally on May 30 in Vietnam, focuses attention on children with disabilities. It recognises that in too many societies, children with disabilities are seen as inferior and their abilities are gravely underestimated. It says that unless these attitudes change, little would change in the lives of these children.
“We have to make people realise that people with disabilities are not apart or a segregated entity in society. They too have their share of rights and have much to contribute to the society as anyone else, said Jamir, adding, “Our approach should be based on the notion of right rather than of charity, of acceptance of differences and of inclusion, participation and citizenship rather than of exclusion.”
Unicef Odisha chief Yumi Bae said attitudes in the family, community and the public towards the children with disabilities are the worst barriers that these children face. “These attitudes unfortunately end up in pushing the children out of the view of the community and the public, invisible from being counted and invisible from basic services,” said she.
The report revealed that 2.8 per cent of the total population of Odisha consists of children with disabilities. Nearly 85 per cent of disabled children in Odisha live in rural areas. Jharsuguda district has the highest 3.57 per cent children with disabilities while Nabarangpur district has the lowest with 0.58 per cent, the report said.
The report, while acknowledging progress in building inclusive societies for children with disabilities, highlighted that far too many are still discriminated against and excluded. Children with disabilities are among the most marginalised people in the world. Children who are poor and disabled are among the least likely to attend school or visit a health centre, the report said, adding, “Physically challenged girls are three to four times more likely to be victims of violence. Those with mental or intellectual disabilities were found to be 4.6 times more likely to be victims of sexual violence than their peers without disabilities.”
The report said that if a child’s disability is identified at an early stage, he or she would have a better chance of receiving interventions as needed. The report also drew attention to preventive interventions such as immunisation that can prevent childhood disabilities, nutrition interventions like Vitamin A supplementation that prevents blindness and salt iodisation that can help prevent irreversible brain damage.