They too deserve a chance to witness the spectacle Mr Tourism Minister
Well when talks about lifting the physically challenged people is the byline of the politicians particularly Ministers who were/are in charge of Social Welfare Department , nothing seems to be done so far to make the differently abled people to avail the facilities in par with the normal people here in the state of Manipur.
Promises to treat them under special category turned out to be cruel jokes of those in power. Even in recruitments to the government posts except for the name sake reservation of 3%, nothing has been arranged to make them feel free or cared for. Discrimination and the stigmatization haunted the life of the disabled people when it comes to every aspects of life here in the state of Manipur. Viva voce for recruitment in government jobs are conducted late in the evening which is the most inconvenient time for the disabled persons. Moreover, when filling up application forms for application of jobs they are left to fend for themselves and on their own to struggle with the common ordinary people.
The latest example seen is the way the disabled people are being treated in the ongoing Sangai Tourism festival. Of course, some stalls are reserved for them that too after much pleading and begging here and there. There are no special facilities for the disabled people to visit the Sangai festival. Seems like the department of Tourism has forgotten that the disabled people are human beings too, able and wanting to enjoy and appreciate the pleasures and good things in life enjoyed by a common person.
In our yesterday’s issue we have highlighted the inconveniences faced by disabled people who come to witness the Sangai Tourism festival which is underway at Hapta Kangjeibung Palace compound. For a disabled person it is hard and most of the times impossible to visit the festival on their own. Lack of arrangements for ‘barrier-free’ entry and exit as well as ramps and support rails drives home the glaring disregard of the organizers for the physically challenged citizens.
Then the distance from the parking space provided for visitors at Sangai festival is a bit far even though it is walking distance for common people. No arrangement is made to make the disabled people convenient in visiting the Sangai festival venue from the parking. Besides, there are no separate entry gates for the disabled people. They have to join the queue along with the normal people, which appeared as harassment to them.
Besides, no ramp is seen constructed at the temporary toilet at the festival site. This attitude of the tourism department is nothing but the worst form of discrimination to the disabled people.
Authorities in the Tourism department should remember that disabled people too have the right to enjoy the Sangai Tourism festival as should be with every public facilities and utilities as provided for the persons with disabilities under the constitution of India.
At least think of the disabled, Mr. Commissioner or Director or whoever is there in the department of the state tourism department, They are no lesser human beings, they too have equal rights with the common people to enjoy and witness the grand Sangai Tourism festival. In acknowledging and providing for their special needs, those responsible for the festival should have displayed their humility, commitment and could have vindicated their oft-repeated promises of caring for the differently- abled persons. For now all the smart-talks of alleviation of the physically challenged persons remains mere wishful thinking for the people of the state.
