DC Budgam Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar holds meeting for the empowerment of persons with Disabilities in District Budgam

A high level meeting of District administration under chair of Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar, The Deputy Commissioner Budgam in presence of Delegation of Persons with disabilities from Budgam under the leadership of Javed Ahmad Tak. The meeting was held to hear the problems faced by persons with disabilities in all areas. The district officers from almost all departments were present in the meeting to hear the greviances of persons with disabilities. Javed Ahmad Tak Disability activist, heading Humaity Welfareorganisation Helpline Bijbehara presented a detailed charter of demands regarding disability rights. While narrating the problems faced by persons with disabilities in health department he said the fake disability certificate mar the rights of deserving disable persons. The doctors need to be highly sensitive while issuing the disability certificates. There is need for proper composition of doctors in the district medical board, tak added. Deputy commissioner gave on spot orders to CMO Budgam to ensure presence of neurologist and psychiatrist in medical board and functioning of medical board on ground floor to manage easy access for persons with disabilities. There should be zero tolerance for issuance of disability certificates in favour of non deserving candidates, DC Added. Tak explained the problems faced by students with disabilities in seeking standard assistive and supportive devices, travel and escort allowance, scribe in examinations, provision of special educators and proper functioning of resource rooms. Deputy commissioner directed the DEPO Budgam to submit the detailed report in two days. While narrating the problems faced by persons with disabilities in accessing infrastructure footpaths, recreational places, shrines, public places, town halls, Dak Bunglows sports stadiums and auditoriums persons with diaabilities are carried aa luggage and there is no concern about the dignity and esteem of persons with disabilities. DC Budgam directed the SE R&B to ensure proper accessibility for persons with disabilities in all new on going projects like Degree college and other public buildings with provision of Ramps lifts for orthopaedic disabilities tactile paths for persons with blindness, tag system for persons with hearing and speech disabilities with reserved parking slots. The delegation updated the Deputy commissioner that no proper mechanism is implemented to provide hassle free loans to the persons with disabilities for startinglivelihood generation units. Even the benificaries with disabilities are not trained how to start small scale business units but in turn the hurdles are created by financial agencies and banks in disbursing loan amounts in favour of persons with disabilities. Dr Sehrish directed the authorities to be sensitive about the rights of persons with disabilities while dealing with their livelihood matters and income generation plans.

Social welfare department was directed to create priorities for deserving young persons with disabilities while distributing wheelchairs and hand controlled scooters. CAPD department was directed to provide ration cards under AAY and Anapurna schemes. Tak requested Deputy commissioner Budgam to be kind enough while formulating developmental plans of distrct that should include provision of enabling environment and provision of quota in contracts to contractors with disabilities. There should be complete implementation for Inclusive education

Inclusive Tourism

Inclusive sports and Inclusive recreation. Tak urged for inclusive and accessible rural infrastructure and provision of job cards and 5% quota in prime minister Aawas yogna. Deputy Commissioner Budgam directed the ACD Budgam to hold a camp for issuance of job cards and labour cards in favour of youth with disabilities on urgent basis and directed District Officer Social welfare department to facilitate the camp.

The meeting was concluded with the positive note of the Deputy commissioner that it is collective responsibility of stake holders to redress the greviances of persons with disabilities on priority basis with empathetic approach. She applauded role of disability leader Javed Ahmad Tak who represented the disability sector and presented the charter of demands. It was completely eye opening message, DC added.

Javed Ahmad tak thanked the Deputy Commissioner Budgam Dr Sehrish Asgar for her patient hearing and involving whole of the district administration for the empowerment of Persons with disabilities. He requested the officials to be empathetic and humble while dealing with the affairs of persons with disabilities. He said it was not the complaining process that officials are insensitive towards the affairs of the the disable people but it was to bridge the gap and aware the stake holders about the sufferings of persons with disabilities that needs to be redressed without further delays. There should be a follow up of the meeting after two months. Tak requested