Activists for the differently-abled, long peeved at not being included in the Millenium Development Goals (MDG), gathered in the Capital to voice their protest. Representatives of disabled groups from at least 15 States gathered in Delhi for two-day consultations on framing of the post 2015 development agenda.
The meeting which concluded on Wednesday drew up a list of five recommendations for the disabled sector for MDG 2015, which include, enabling environment for the disabled, early and inclusive education, rehabilitation, social security and livelihood and employment.
MDGs framed post 2000 included eradicating poverty, universal education, gender equality, improving maternal health and reducing child deaths, combating HIV/AIDS and Malaria and creating sustainable environment.
"The disability sector does not find any mention in the existing MDGs. Given the fact that over one billion people with disabilities in the world are at risk of being socially excluded, it is imperative that the post-2015 development framework is inclusive of people with disabilities," said Javed Abidi, disability activist, who will be representing India and Disabled People's International at a United Nations high level meeting on disability in New York on September 23, this year.
"We have mapped the major demands of the disabled, which we will submit to the Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of External Affairs and Ministry of Social Justice as these are the people who will make our voices heard at the international forum," said Abidi.
"It is important to ensure that people with disabilities themselves are treated as equal and effective participants at all levels of formulation of the post-2015 framework," said Pooja Parvati, leader at Vada Naa Todo Abhiyan, a national campaign to hold the government accountable to its promise to end Poverty, Social Exclusion and discrimination.
"Basically the international bodies including the United Nations need to recognise that the realities of people with disabilities from the global South are very different from that of the developed world and therefore ensure that voices from the global South are given adequate weightage," she said.
Activists also discussed the need for international cooperation in breaking down barriers for differently-abled by helping create infrastructure, programme and services to help them overcome both physical and information barriers.