Disability in kashmir
As world celebrated Disability Day on 3rd December , Disability is Still Taboo in kashmir
By Abbass kashmiri
Over 650 million persons around the world live with disabilities. Adding to that their
extended families, and a staggering two billion people daily live with disabilities. In
every region, and in every country in the world, persons with disabilities often live on the margins of society, deprived of some of life’s fundamental experiences. They have little hope of going to school, securing a job, having their own home, creating a family and raising their children, enjoying a social life etc. For the vast majority of the world’s persons with disabilities, shops, public facilities and transport, and even information are largely out of reach. Disability is associated with illiteracy, poor nutrition, lack of access to clean water, low rates of immunization against diseases, and unhealthy and dangerous working conditions.
Persons with disabilities make up the world’s largest and most disadvantaged
minority.
Disability is not Taboo, earlier it was Disability which meas to make someone Disable from doing anything. But this term has Been corrected multiple times which becomes now person with special ability or specialabled.
In state of Jammu and Kashmir people with Disability facing troubles in every day life. As per the figures, 361153 persons (2.87 percent) of the State’s total population of 1.25 crore, suffer from various disabilities including locomotive problems, mental illness, retardation, multiple disabilities, problems related to seeing, hearing and speech.
The occurrence of various kinds of disabilities at all-
According to the conference on the ‘Rights of Persons with Disability’, Article 24, 2(a), disabled persons should not be barred from broader education organizations due to their disability. Besides, the ‘Millennium Development Goals’ and ‘Education for All’ insist on justice, equality and quality education for all.
In kashmir pwd faces lot of Challenges at every level, There is no special abled friendly Structures , not only in kashmir University, even our mosques are not fit for these people, no wheelchair racks , as per the disability act 2016, every new structure should be Pwd friendly but unfortunately from civil Sectetariat to University of kashmir, from mosque to Mandir not a single Institution is quite fit.
Still in 21st century pwd are depending on charity, granting them one thousand Rupees Monthly Aid to pwd under integrated social security scheme ISSS can’t fulfill their basic necessity.
It’s reported that there are more than 4.30 lac cases as per jammu and Kashmir handicapped association in which 40% are visually impaired. More than one lac people with disability are Conflict victims of Kashmir’s movement in which thousands of cases reported during 2016-2018 by using lethal Pellets .
Lacking of friendly public transport is a biggest obstacle in their movement. They can’t go in public busses because of overloading system or not having Spaces for them. You will Find its written in every bus that 1 to 9th seats reserved for Pwd and ladies but will always find boys sitting on them.
Lack of awareness is a major concern , on ground We people didn’t accept these people, we are taunting them by calling with nicknames like langai ( broken leg) kalai ( dumb) or Zarai (deaf). Even sometimes we are referring them with sins that they faced this.
As per UN report on Disability
Disability inclusion is an essential condition to upholding human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security. It is also central to the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind. The commitment to realizing the rights of persons with disabilities is not only a matter of justice; it is an investment
When launched the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy in June 2019, the Secretary-General stated that the United Nations should lead by example and raise the Organization’s standards and performance on disability inclusion across all pillars of work, from headquarters to the field.
The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations. Through the Strategy, the United Nations system reaffirms that the full and complete realization of the human rights of all persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
In October 2021, the Secretary-General submitted his second report on steps taken by the UN system to implement the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy in 2020. Given the impact of the COVID-19 on persons with disabilities, the report also contains a brief reflection on disability-inclusive COVID-19 response and recovery.
In 1993 the parliament passed an act for the welfare of the people with disability and the state government also endorsed the J&K Persons with Disability Act 1998. The act makes it the constitutional obligation of the state government to provide rehabilitation, relief, social empowerment, medical healthcare, barrier-free infrastructure, equal opportunity and full participation and legal protection.
As the government, which mostly boasts about empowering disables, does nothing to provide them access to public places, government offices, parks, shrines, lakes or health resorts, they remain confined to their homes. Medical researchers say such persons need more recreation and exposure to the natural world without any hurdle. “Kashmir life reported”
Besides Pvt NGO’s or agencies like VMS, chotay Taray foundation, JKHA, Humanity welfare Bijbehara of Jawad tak sahab, learning edge, hope Disability Ganderbal there is only one Govt Centre which is Composite Regional centre Bemina Srinagar only govt institute meant for the rehabilitation and human resource development of persons with disabilities. The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) has recognized the Institute for the courses like special B. Ed, Diploma and bachelors in rehabilitation therapy, prosthetics and orthotics and other courses.
As far huge numbers of Cases rising every day because of Conflits and accidents Govt must Open more centre’s in North, South kashmir to let them feel they are Humans living with Dignity.
I myself Attended many Seminars and workshops on Disability, but these lectures, articles , findings remained in the corners of buildings only, never Transformed them into practical. As it’s good saying slogans Looks beautiful on walls not practical. But here it is an need of hour that very serious steps t
Should take to fight for the basic rights of pwd.
Researcher Manzoor hussain from sociology Department university of kashmir Wrote in IJPSS paper ,
“There has been a significant consequences of disability on individual, family and society. The person of disability feel‟s loneliness; boundless into four wall‟s ,economically dependent and medically not treated, unable to work if him/her arm or leg is to be amputated. Socially, their contact with other‟s becomes limited and psychologically the depression occurs in them. Such people feel cut off from society and they become victim of their own disability. Social workers and other governmental organization‟s can come forward to eradicate and overcome the impact
of disability on the individual. Society should treat them as challenge of their responsibility to help them to overcome from trauma. If people are affected with any one of a number of disabilities they know how hard it make their life. People need to learn about a couple of basic disabilities and ways to help live with
them. Being blind affect‟s the life of many people throughout the world. This disability is when people cannot see people, will not be able to see or do many of the things they love. Being deaf
is a very awful disability. However, this kind of disability has fewer consequences than some of the others. People may not be able to hear they can still with other people via sign language or some speech if they can learn to read lips.
People with disabilities have ordinary needs – for health and well-being, for economic and social security, to learn and develop skills, and to live in their communities. These needs can and should be met in mainstream programmes and services. Mainstreaming not only fulfils the human rights of persons with disabilities, it is also more effective.Mainstreaming is the process by which governments and other stakeholders ensure that persons with
disabilities participate equally with others in any activity and service intended for the general public, such as education,
health, employment, and social services. Barriers to participation need to be identified and removed, possibly requiring changes to laws, policies, institutions, and environments. Mainstreaming requires a commitment at all levels, and needs to be considered across all sectors and built into new and existing legislation, standards, policies, strategies, and plans. Adopting
universal design and implementing reasonable accommodations are two important strategies. Mainstreaming also requires effective planning, adequate human resources, and sufficient financial investment – accompanied by specific measures such as targeted programmes and services to ensure that the diverse needs of people with disabilities are
adequately met”
Conclusion
Our good portion of society is concerned of disable persons, and they require a great concern from entire section of society. In this regard government should make all the efforts to work for their betterment and welfare, all the latest amenities should be facilitated to help disabled to flipside their normal life. Efforts should be made to analyse the causes and consequences of disability and the goals of „Rehabilitation‟ as a profession dedicated to healing and care of the disability in a dignified manner.The causes of disability, need to be studied before rehabilitation. At the same, the consequences of disability on individual,
family and society need to be highlighted. So for as causes are concerned, which includes social, physical, psychological and biological come under this category. Social causes includes failure in life, social pressure etc. Physical causes include –road accidents, mines exploded, industrial accidents etc. Psychological includes- depression and psychological pressure and biological hereditary births, malnutrition which needs to be pointed out. Consequently, disability has also consequence on the individual, family and society which must be taken into consideration. Socially individual becomes alone and feel alienated from the society. Economically, disabled peoples are on family which need support of Govt help to cope the economical problem. Alone, without the help of Govt the downtrodden family is not in a position to provide facilities for their disabled family members. Special machines should be installed, on which disabled people can work and earn their livelihood. No such effort has been taken by the Govt. There is a need to hammer home the new ideas to Govt, in order to employ disabled in specially disabled designed industries.There, should be a great role of the government in the rehabilitation of disabled
peoples. They should make such policies which will benefit the whole society. Social,
psychological, physical and biological .
Suggestions
More and more moral education should teach to our youths and children’s
Open more rehabilitation centre’s across state
Open skill training institutions for persons with disabilities .
Increments of 1000 rupee to 5000.
Make Every pvt, govt infrastructure Pwd friendly.
Make Free public transport feasible for These people .
Awareness should be on Ground level.
Involve multi stakeholders like religious and political figures for awareness
Adopt UN resolutions and SDG for for the upliftment of pwd.
Note: this article is a collection from writers Research, UN website, rising kashmir ,kashmir life and IJPSS Paper.
By
Abbass kashmiri is a Professional social worker pursuing Masters in social work from university of kashmir, He is chairman of BLESSING KASHMIR trust and UT secretary of jammu and Kashmir students association.Disability in kashmir
As world is going to celebrate Disability Day on 3rd December , Disability is Still Taboo in kashmir
By Abbass kashmiri
Over 650 million persons around the world live with disabilities. Adding to that their
extended families, and a staggering two billion people daily live with disabilities. In
every region, and in every country in the world, persons with disabilities often live on the margins of society, deprived of some of life’s fundamental experiences. They have little hope of going to school, securing a job, having their own home, creating a family and raising their children, enjoying a social life etc. For the vast majority of the world’s persons with disabilities, shops, public facilities and transport, and even information are largely out of reach. Disability is associated with illiteracy, poor nutrition, lack of access to clean water, low rates of immunization against diseases, and unhealthy and dangerous working conditions.
Persons with disabilities make up the world’s largest and most disadvantaged
minority.
Disability is not Taboo, earlier it was Disability which meas to make someone Disable from doing anything. But this term has Been corrected multiple times which becomes now person with special ability or specialabled.
In state of Jammu and Kashmir people with Disability facing troubles in every day life. As per the figures, 361153 persons (2.87 percent) of the State’s total population of 1.25 crore, suffer from various disabilities including locomotive problems, mental illness, retardation, multiple disabilities, problems related to seeing, hearing and speech.
The occurrence of various kinds of disabilities at all-
According to the conference on the ‘Rights of Persons with Disability’, Article 24, 2(a), disabled persons should not be barred from broader education organizations due to their disability. Besides, the ‘Millennium Development Goals’ and ‘Education for All’ insist on justice, equality and quality education for all.
In kashmir pwd faces lot of Challenges at every level, There is no special abled friendly Structures , not only in kashmir University, even our mosques are not fit for these people, no wheelchair racks , as per the disability act 2016, every new structure should be Pwd friendly but unfortunately from civil Sectetariat to University of kashmir, from mosque to Mandir not a single Institution is quite fit.
Still in 21st century pwd are depending on charity, granting them one thousand Rupees Monthly Aid to pwd under integrated social security scheme ISSS can’t fulfill their basic necessity.
It’s reported that there are more than 4.30 lac cases as per jammu and Kashmir handicapped association in which 40% are visually impaired. More than one lac people with disability are Conflict victims of Kashmir’s movement in which thousands of cases reported during 2016-2018 by using lethal Pellets .
Lacking of friendly public transport is a biggest obstacle in their movement. They can’t go in public busses because of overloading system or not having Spaces for them. You will Find its written in every bus that 1 to 9th seats reserved for Pwd and ladies but will always find boys sitting on them.
Lack of awareness is a major concern , on ground We people didn’t accept these people, we are taunting them by calling with nicknames like langai ( broken leg) kalai ( dumb) or Zarai (deaf). Even sometimes we are referring them with sins that they faced this.
As per UN report on Disability
Disability inclusion is an essential condition to upholding human rights, sustainable development, and peace and security. It is also central to the promise of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to leave no one behind. The commitment to realizing the rights of persons with disabilities is not only a matter of justice; it is an investment
When launched the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy in June 2019, the Secretary-General stated that the United Nations should lead by example and raise the Organization’s standards and performance on disability inclusion across all pillars of work, from headquarters to the field.
The United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy provides the foundation for sustainable and transformative progress on disability inclusion through all pillars of the work of the United Nations. Through the Strategy, the United Nations system reaffirms that the full and complete realization of the human rights of all persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
In October 2021, the Secretary-General submitted his second report on steps taken by the UN system to implement the UN Disability Inclusion Strategy in 2020. Given the impact of the COVID-19 on persons with disabilities, the report also contains a brief reflection on disability-inclusive COVID-19 response and recovery.
In 1993 the parliament passed an act for the welfare of the people with disability and the state government also endorsed the J&K Persons with Disability Act 1998. The act makes it the constitutional obligation of the state government to provide rehabilitation, relief, social empowerment, medical healthcare, barrier-free infrastructure, equal opportunity and full participation and legal protection.
As the government, which mostly boasts about empowering disables, does nothing to provide them access to public places, government offices, parks, shrines, lakes or health resorts, they remain confined to their homes. Medical researchers say such persons need more recreation and exposure to the natural world without any hurdle. “Kashmir life reported”
Besides Pvt NGO’s or agencies like VMS, chotay Taray foundation, JKHA, Humanity welfare Bijbehara of Jawad tak sahab, learning edge, hope Disability Ganderbal there is only one Govt Centre which is Composite Regional centre Bemina Srinagar only govt institute meant for the rehabilitation and human resource development of persons with disabilities. The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) has recognized the Institute for the courses like special B. Ed, Diploma and bachelors in rehabilitation therapy, prosthetics and orthotics and other courses.
As far huge numbers of Cases rising every day because of Conflits and accidents Govt must Open more centre’s in North, South kashmir to let them feel they are Humans living with Dignity.
I myself Attended many Seminars and workshops on Disability, but these lectures, articles , findings remained in the corners of buildings only, never Transformed them into practical. As it’s good saying slogans Looks beautiful on walls not practical. But here it is an need of hour that very serious steps t
Should take to fight for the basic rights of pwd.
Researcher Manzoor hussain from sociology Department university of kashmir Wrote in IJPSS paper ,
“There has been a significant consequences of disability on individual, family and society. The person of disability feel‟s loneliness; boundless into four wall‟s ,economically dependent and medically not treated, unable to work if him/her arm or leg is to be amputated. Socially, their contact with other‟s becomes limited and psychologically the depression occurs in them. Such people feel cut off from society and they become victim of their own disability. Social workers and other governmental organization‟s can come forward to eradicate and overcome the impact
of disability on the individual. Society should treat them as challenge of their responsibility to help them to overcome from trauma. If people are affected with any one of a number of disabilities they know how hard it make their life. People need to learn about a couple of basic disabilities and ways to help live with
them. Being blind affect‟s the life of many people throughout the world. This disability is when people cannot see people, will not be able to see or do many of the things they love. Being deaf
is a very awful disability. However, this kind of disability has fewer consequences than some of the others. People may not be able to hear they can still with other people via sign language or some speech if they can learn to read lips.
People with disabilities have ordinary needs – for health and well-being, for economic and social security, to learn and develop skills, and to live in their communities. These needs can and should be met in mainstream programmes and services. Mainstreaming not only fulfils the human rights of persons with disabilities, it is also more effective.Mainstreaming is the process by which governments and other stakeholders ensure that persons with
disabilities participate equally with others in any activity and service intended for the general public, such as education,
health, employment, and social services. Barriers to participation need to be identified and removed, possibly requiring changes to laws, policies, institutions, and environments. Mainstreaming requires a commitment at all levels, and needs to be considered across all sectors and built into new and existing legislation, standards, policies, strategies, and plans. Adopting
universal design and implementing reasonable accommodations are two important strategies. Mainstreaming also requires effective planning, adequate human resources, and sufficient financial investment – accompanied by specific measures such as targeted programmes and services to ensure that the diverse needs of people with disabilities are
adequately met”
Conclusion
Our good portion of society is concerned of disable persons, and they require a great concern from entire section of society. In this regard government should make all the efforts to work for their betterment and welfare, all the latest amenities should be facilitated to help disabled to flipside their normal life. Efforts should be made to analyse the causes and consequences of disability and the goals of „Rehabilitation‟ as a profession dedicated to healing and care of the disability in a dignified manner.The causes of disability, need to be studied before rehabilitation. At the same, the consequences of disability on individual,
family and society need to be highlighted. So for as causes are concerned, which includes social, physical, psychological and biological come under this category. Social causes includes failure in life, social pressure etc. Physical causes include –road accidents, mines exploded, industrial accidents etc. Psychological includes- depression and psychological pressure and biological hereditary births, malnutrition which needs to be pointed out. Consequently, disability has also consequence on the individual, family and society which must be taken into consideration. Socially individual becomes alone and feel alienated from the society. Economically, disabled peoples are on family which need support of Govt help to cope the economical problem. Alone, without the help of Govt the downtrodden family is not in a position to provide facilities for their disabled family members. Special machines should be installed, on which disabled people can work and earn their livelihood. No such effort has been taken by the Govt. There is a need to hammer home the new ideas to Govt, in order to employ disabled in specially disabled designed industries.There, should be a great role of the government in the rehabilitation of disabled
peoples. They should make such policies which will benefit the whole society. Social,
psychological, physical and biological .
Suggestions
More and more moral education should teach to our youths and children’s
Open more rehabilitation centre’s across state
Open skill training institutions for persons with disabilities .
Increments of 1000 rupee to 5000.
Make Every pvt, govt infrastructure Pwd friendly.
Make Free public transport feasible for These people .
Awareness should be on Ground level.
Involve multi stakeholders like religious and political figures for awareness
Adopt UN resolutions and SDG for for the upliftment of pwd.
Note: this article is a collection from writers Research, UN website, rising kashmir ,kashmir life and IJPSS Paper.
By
Abbass kashmiri is a Professional social worker pursuing Masters in social work from university of kashmir, He is chairman of BLESSING KASHMIR trust and UT secretary of jammu and Kashmir students association.
