IMPHAL, August 18: Imploring people to support differently-abled people not just in words but also in deeds, All Manipur Disabled and Physically Handicapped Development Association (AMDAPHDA) secretary Junus Khan said that many individuals made promises of offering funds to support them but refused to to keep their promises when the funds are actually sought.
Junus was speaking on the occasion of the Eighth Foundation Day celebrations of AMDAPHDA at the Samurou Awang Leikai community hall today.
Citing the incident of a politician promising to offer monetary help in support of a differently abled team’s participation in a cricket tournament for the disabled held outside the State, he said the promise eventually turned out to be a lie.
When we tried to contact the politician through his mobile number, we discovered that he had switched off his phone, Junus said.
The politician cared about the votes of differently abled people without having any concerns about their welfare, he added.
Speaking during the celebrations, All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) president Wangkhemcha Shamjai said that the culture of neglecting differently abled people needs to be eradicated by working together with them by treating them as you would any other person.
AMWJU has always urged the State government to work for the welfare of differently abled people and will render any possible help for their welfare and development, he added.
Meanwhile, disability commissioner L Ibomcha Singh stated that an independent disability commissioner was appointed in the State after an act for the welfare of differently abled people was passed on February 7, 1996.
He said he was appointed the independent disability commissioner on July 1 this year and promised to take up various steps for the well being of differently abled people.
Stating that he visited many places in the country to discuss the welfare of the differently abled people with various intellectual, he said people will see the results of his effort soon.
There are stigmas around being differently-abled which must be removed because until and unless every human being is treated equally, they will be perceived in a different way, Ibomcha said.
He also expressed regret at some individuals lodging a case against him for initiating new welfare schemes for the differently abled people.