NSDF calls out exclusion of persons with disabilities at Kohima event for inspiring women

The Nagaland State Disability Forum (NSDF) has expressed disappointment over the “inaccessibility and insensitivity” demonstrated at an event held on October 24, 2024, in Kohima. The event, organized by the SDG Coordination Centre (SDGCC), marked the launch of Weaving Dreams – A Tribute to Inspiring Women of Nagaland, a coffee table book celebrating inspiring women in the state. However, the NSDF stated, the event turned into a “painful reminder of the pervasive exclusion faced by Persons with Disabilities in Nagaland.”

The event’s venue was “shockingly inaccessible” to one of the women featured in the book, State Disability Commissioner Diethono Nakhro. Despite being invited and celebrated as an “inspiring” woman, Nakhro was “denied the basic dignity of attending the event due to the venue’s lack of accessibility,” the NSDF reported. This oversight, they noted, puts focus on the much larger issue of continued marginalisation of Persons with Disabilities in our state.

As Nakhro herself highlighted in her social media post, this was not an isolated case, but a reflection of the everyday reality for disabled people across the state. “Inaccessibility and exclusion are not occasional mishaps but the norm in our society,” and her words echoed deeply with the experiences of so many disabled individuals, the NSDF continued.

The NSDF pointed out the irony in the SDG team, an organization committed to “leave no one behind” under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), failing to ensure accessibility at an event intended to promote inclusivity.

“How can we, as a society, claim to be working towards sustainable development if we continue to overlook the rights and needs of disabled persons?” the NSDF questioned, emphasizing that accessibility “is not a favour to be gifted upon individuals” but “a right guaranteed under the law.” The incident, the forum stated, was a clear violation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD) 2016, which mandates barrier-free access to all public spaces.

The NSDF highlighted the broader issue of non-compliance with the RPwD Act across Nagaland. “Public spaces in Nagaland, including government buildings, educational institutions, and event venues, remain largely inaccessible,” they asserted, which “excludes a significant portion of the population from participating fully in social, cultural, and economic life.”

“This incident is a strong reminder of the work that still needs to be done to make Nagaland an inclusive and equitable state,” they continued, urging that “apologies, while appreciated, are insufficient.” The NSDF called for “action that ensures all public spaces are accessible” and insisted that Persons with Disabilities should be included “in every aspect of public life, from policy-making to event planning.”

The NSDF also appealed to the government, SDG Coordination Centre, and all establishments to take immediate steps to address this issue. This includes “enforcing the provisions of the RPwD Act, ensuring that all future events are held in accessible venues, and implementing policies that promote the inclusion of disabled individuals at every level of society.”

Diethono Nakhro stated, “We need action, not apologies.” The NSDF reiterated her call, emphasizing that “true inclusivity requires more than just acknowledging the presence of Persons with Disabilities.” Instead, it demands “a concerted effort to break down the physical and attitudinal barriers that prevent them from fully participating in society.”

The NSDF concluded by standing in solidarity with Commissioner Nakhro and all Persons with Disabilities in “demanding accountability and concrete steps towards a more inclusive, accessible, and just society.” The forum urged, “It is time for Nagaland to walk the talk on disability inclusion”.

MT