'Funds needed for upliftment of disabled'

At least three per cent of funds given to the Ministry of Labour should be diverted towards upliftment of people with disabilities, suggested Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment at a conference in New Delhi.

“There are policies for development of the disabled but they exist only on paper. There is zero implementation.  There is no independent department and professional programmes for disabled till now,” said Dr J P Singh, member secretary of the Rehabilitation Council of India, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. He spoke at the three-day international conference on “Global Commitments towards Inclusive Development of Persons with Disabilities.”

Mukul Wasnik , Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment said people need to change their attitude as even the disabled have a basic right to live their life.

Indu Chaswat, Society for Advance Study in Rehabilitation (SASR), Faridabad stressed on evolvement of dynamic participation. “There are several definitions in books and there has been no effort towards changing them. The most damaging phrase used my many is ‘But it has always been done this way’. There is always a new and better way as the disabled are not objects but subjects with rights,” she said.

Many experts believe that since major policies and legislations were passed in 1980s, the socio economic, cultural and educational diversities, awareness building and access to facilities is limited.

“ I have a 44-year-old son who is disabled. His sufferings reduced because of community participation. Expressions like no prejudice, equal and free rights help such people evolve. The society must work towards the same,” said Asha Gupta, professor with Navjyoti Institute, New Delhi.