Chief Minister Hemant Soren felt the necessity of connecting NGOs with such government schemes implementation.
During the International Day of Persons with Disabilities programme on Tuesday at Zila School he said, “In the next 15 days, NGOs working for disabled people will have to submit suggestions to the state government on how to connect the disabled population with the mainstream society. It will help us in preparing the work plan for the development of disabled population and take necessary steps.”
CM’s opinion was favoured by State Social Welfare, Women and Child Development Minister Annapurna Devi. According to United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) survey, atleast five per cent of a population is known to be disabled. But, Jharkhand’s survey of disabled population is an understatement. The information was disclosed by State Human Resources Development (HRD) Principal Secretary K Vidyasagar and UNICEF State Head Job Zachariah.
“By and large the two percent disabled population is a challenge for us since there is a need to integrate them. Social stigma and discrimination about disability is depriving the disabled children and adults from the laws amended for their health and education,” said Vidyasagar. He added, “We need to identify more NGOs for effective implementation of the state government benefits meant for specially abled people. Obtaining disability certificate in this regard is a difficulty for family members of such persons. Initially, we must explain the mass on how to avail a disability certificate.”
NGOs working for this development issue have joined hands with the state health department on Monday. “After January 2014, Jharkhand will be the first state to introduce early intervention of disability facility in Malnutrition Centres of the state government including seven districts. This will help the state government in identifying disabled persons easily and cure the disease in the initial stage,” said Dr AlkaNizamie, Nodal Officer of Deepshikha NGO working for physically challenged persons at Namkom.
Nizamie also stressed the relevance of State Disability Policy of Jharkhand which is yet to be launched. She said, “The policy was passed by the cabinet in September 2012 but has not been launched yet. It would help in learning the various national and state schemes sanctioned for disabled persons. Since 2006, most of the states have already launched it.”
HRD Minister Geetashree Oraon felicitated two students of St Michael Blind School namely Neha Pandey and Sonu with Rs 1001 cash award for their singing performances. Other specially abled children who performed in front of the minister were also given away the same award. A vehicle named Badte Kadam was flagged off by the HRD Minister from here for spreading awareness on disability among the city denizens which was welcomed back by CM.