At 100th Regional Parents’ Meet, Nand Kishore Yadav stresses accessibility, education, skills and employment
Governor of Nagaland Nand Kishore Yadav has called for disability-related services and inclusive opportunities to reach villages and communities across the state, stressing that inclusion cannot remain limited to state and district headquarters.
Addressing the 100th Regional Parents’ Meet 2026 organised by the Nagaland Parents Association for the Disabled (NAPAD) at RCEMPA, Kohima, on Thursday, Yadav said Nagaland’s difficult terrain and dispersed settlements require decentralised approaches to ensure persons with disabilities have access to healthcare, rehabilitation, assistive devices and education.
Held under the theme “From Care to Empowerment: Building Inclusive Communities through Strong Families and Collective Action,” the meet focused on moving beyond care towards greater independence and participation of persons with disabilities.
Yadav said inclusion must translate into access to education, skills, employment and public services, and should be reflected in schools, public buildings, transportation, workplaces, digital platforms and community spaces.
He stressed the need to strengthen the pathway from education to economic independence through vocational training, skill development, entrepreneurship and employment opportunities. Workplaces, he said, should provide persons with disabilities equal opportunities to be recruited, trained, entrusted with responsibilities and advance based on their abilities and performance.
The Governor also called for stronger early identification and intervention, with closer coordination among families, Anganwadi centres, schools, health workers and medical professionals.
He said education should remain central to inclusion, pointing to the need for trained teachers, accessible infrastructure, appropriate learning materials and informed parental support. He also called for translating the inclusion and equity principles of the National Education Policy 2020 into meaningful action.
For Nagaland, Yadav said technology and tele-consultation could help address geographical barriers, alongside stronger coordination among institutions and service providers.
He called for a shift in how society approaches disability, saying persons with disabilities need respect, equal opportunity and removal of barriers rather than sympathy alone. He stressed that their voices and experiences should guide decisions concerning policies and programmes affecting their lives.
The Governor acknowledged the role of families, particularly parents, in navigating challenges related to therapy, education and accessibility, and called for stronger support systems.
Yadav congratulated PARIVAAR-NCPO, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, the State Commission for Persons with Disabilities, NAPAD and other partner organisations for organising the 100th Regional Parents’ Meet in Nagaland.
The 100th edition of the regional meet was described as a milestone in continuing efforts towards dialogue, advocacy and collective action for the dignity, participation and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
