Disable people urge civil society

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Guwahati, Dec 26 (UNI) Activists of various rights groups for disabled persons today criticized the Asom government for its 'casual and tentative' attitude towards their grievances.

They called for a pro-active association of the civil society and a 'focused and strategic' approach of the government towards disability's issues, so that the latter would not have to restore to agitation to press for their rightful demands.

Addressing a press meet here, Disability Law Unit-North East assistant project coordinator Anju Talukdar alleged that all provisions for special arrangements for disability, provided by various Acts and other legal authorities, were being ''grossly ignored'' by the Asom government.

She pointed out that the government was not paying the unemployment allowance for persons with disabilities registered with the Special Employment Exchange for over two years with no gainful occupation.

''Sikkim and Mizoram pay a nominal amount of Rs 200 and Rs 100 respectively. Delhi has also recently started paying Rs 500 per person per month,'' she added.

Quoting 2000 Census figures, Ms Talukdar noted that there were 5,30,300 disability in Asom.

The census claims three per cent of the total population in the country have disabilities, while the Community Based Rehabilitation Forum (CBRF) put the percentage at 5.5 per cent.

As per CBRF figures, of the total 2,66,38,407 population of Asom, 17,79,968 were people with disabilities. Even with five per cent prevalence rate, the number would be 13,31,920 people.

Of the total 3,90,35,582 population of NE, as per 2000 Census figures, 7,42,661 people are with disabilities. If the rate of prevalence is taken to be five per cent, there are 19,51,779 people are disabled in the region.

Ms Talukdar pointed out that the figures are quiet high even if the Census figures are accepted, though the universal assumption was for five per cent prevalence rate.

However, less than two per cent of children with disabilities across the country have access to education while the employment rate was below one per cent, she added.