KANGPOKPI, May 13: All Disabled Union Sadar Hills today outrightly flouted the Association of Person with Disability, Senapati (APDS) that alleged ADUSH of tarnishing the image and reputation of ATDUM.
Speaking to the local media this evening at Kangpokpi, Kamlenlal Samte, information and publicity secretary of ADUSH outrightly denied the allegation of APDS and termed the allegation as baseless and made with vested interest.
ATDUM under Maun Tombing never called for general election ever since 2006 even after repeated reminder and run the union in a self-styled way disregarding the interest of the general public particularly the disabled pointed out Kamlenlal Samte while adding that the malfunctioning of ADTUM under Tombing was account for the hill based disabled persons’ organisation including Ukhrul, Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Chandel, Senapati and Sadar Hills to de-associate with the union in 2012.
He continued that ADUSH has nothing to do with ATDUM after disable organization in all hill districts of the state had de-associated with it since 2012.
“We don’t find any image and reputation of ATDUM to be tarnished,” said Kamlenlal Samte while adding that it will be wise on the part of APDS to mind its action before going public without knowing the reality and malfunctioning ATDUM that has no image and reputation in the society particularly among the disable people.
Kamlenlal Samte further said that the All Tribal Disable Union Sadar Hills (ATDUSH) established in 2005 has been rechristened as All Disable Union Sadar Hills omitting ‘T’ considering the mixed up communities and to covere all persons with disability from all community which clearly pointed out that the only official disable organisation in Sadar Hills ADUSH is not for one particular community but for all.
ADUSH is accepted and endorsed by all disable people within the jurisdiction of Sadar Hills, asserted Samte before adding that the existence of ADUSH is also well acknowledged by all CSOs that have rendered cooperation and support in its activities for the welfare of the disable people in the area which signifies its genuineness and reality.
ATDUSH now ADUSH was once a branch of SDPAM but in view of the administrative conveniences, they parted ways some years back, pointed out Kamlenlal Samte.
He further added that although the two are functioning under different names, the two continue to keep emotional, moral, physical and mental attachment and work in their respective jurisdiction with the same objectives, vision and mission.
While speaking on the allegation of ADUSH being unregistered, Kamlenlal Samte clarified that ADUSH is not like other organisations that works for benefit and other assistance from the government. “It purely works in rights based approach.”
“We are claiming and fighting for our rights from the government”, asserted Samte before adding that registering the union will welcome various restrictions from the Government in claiming and fighting for our rights.
Therefore, we decided it is worth not to register, added Samte.
While clarifying the allegation against its president Mangkholun Khongsai, the ADUSH information and publicity secretary said that considering his seniority, experience and knowledge besides his concerned for the disable people Mangkholun Khongsai was asked to look after the union as an interim body president of the union before general election is conducted while adding that the general election of the union will be conducted in due course.
ADUSH also appeals to the general public not to be misled by such vested self-styled organization while witnessing the tremendous activities and contribution of ADUSH towards humanity in every field.
