A State-level public hearing on the grievances of PWDs and also the status of implementation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) Act-1995 in Odisha would be held here at the lohia Academy on Saturday coinciding International Day for Persons with Disabilities .
The Institute of Social Work and Research (ISWAR), Bhubaneswar in collaboration with the Odisha Vikalananga Manch, the legal Aid Organisation, and many other pro-disabilities rights body is organising the public hearing.
Haryana State Human Rights Commission Chairperson Justice HS Bhalla is scheduled to join the public hearing as the chief guest while Karnataka State
Human Rights Commission Chairperson Meera Sakshena is scheduled to attend the event as guest of honor. Odisha Human Rights Commission Acting Chairperson Justice BK Mishra will inaugurate the event.
Former judge of Orissa High Court Justice Hrudaya Bhalava Mishra, Odisha Food Commission Member Sipra Mallick will hear the grievances. The jury of the public hearing constituted by the judges will pronounce their interim verdict after hearing the depositions of the disabled victims coming to present their cases from all the 30 districts of Odisha.
“The objective of the public hearing is to evaluate the status of implementation of PWDs Act in the State of Odisha and to monitor the social and economic conditions of PWDs in comparison to nondisabled persons,” said ISWAR general secretary Sanyas Kumar Behera.