Mokokchung, 3 December (MTNews): Nagaland State Rural Livelihood Mission (NSRLM) and Mokokchung District Disability Forum (MDDF) organized the International Day of the Person’s with Disability on the theme, “United in action to rescue and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) For, With and By Persons With Disabilities” at the Arok Sapang, Ungma Village, Mokokchung on 3 December.
Moatoshi, Asst Programme Manager, NSRLM Mokokchung in his welcome address mentioned that NSRLM works for providing equitable, affordable, and quality health care to the rural population, especially the vulnerable groups and that this program was an outcome of a workshop that was held in the month of September 2023 with people working with PwDs, Mokokchung District Legal Services Authority, and representatives from Social Welfare as the resource persons.
The theme speaker of the day was Bendangrenla S Longkumer, Asst Professor, Department of English, Fazl Ali College. She began by saying, “attaining SDG for, with and by PwDs has a long way to go and it calls for collaborative cooperation.” She further added that this collaboration has to be in three levels, including institutional and organizational level, at the level of caregivers, and at the individual level.
While talking of the levels of collaborations, she also mentioned lack of basic amenities like ramps in public places, systemic deficiency and infrastructural gaps, concrete actions on accessibilities, and awareness on eradication of social stigmas. She also mentioned inclusive education to make degrees for educators on special needs a mandate. She called upon the caregivers to be collaborators in identifying the potentials and gifts of the PwDs for means of livelihood and to use them for self-sustainability.
‘Significance of the day’ was shared by Arenlila Jamir, Project Associate, Caritas ,India while short speeches were delivered by Abeinuo Jasmine Ashao, SDO Civil, Mokokchung, and Mar Pongener, Executive Secretary, Ao Baptist Arogo Mungdang (ABAM).
Special presentation was brought by miss Katibenla, on behalf of the PwDs and Senyangerla spoke on behalf of the parents PwDs. Imkongnungchit Kichu, President MDDF, proposed the vote of thanks.
The Programme was attended by PwDs, Churches, district administration, NSRLM , and village councils of Longsa and Ungma. Another session of talent presentation and special performances by local artists followed.