2-Day Int’l Conference on disability diaspora
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 29: National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana today invoked societal role towards empowerment and emancipation of differently abled, saying they need equal opportunities and openings in every sphere of activity instead of pity.
“As my layman observations in this august house of experts in the field, disability in any form is not a curse but a condition like any other condition among so-called normal people, which does not bar them from progression in their chosen fields”, Rana said at the inaugural function of the two-day International Conference on disability diaspora covering educational, cultural, economic and historical dimensions with gender perspectives, held at Louis Braille Memorial Residential School for Sightless Girls at Roop Nagar.
Rana, who was chief guest at the function, recalled the contribution of differently abled people towards upliftment of society from times immemorial and said with the advent of age and technological advancement they have proved second to none. The only pre-requisite is to create conditions for their healthy growth, he said, adding that the governmental initiatives would not be enough in this regard but the society at large has to come forward in achieving this noble objective.
“They might be lacking a certain physical ability but are generally blessed by Almighty such a talent which differentiates them from others”, the Provincial President observed, saying these capabilities are needed to be explored and harnessed in a productive manner for overall benefit of the society. This is the least the society can do for their empowerment and self-dependence, he maintained.
He hoped that experts in the field would join their heads and share their experiences during the two day conference and add to the ideas and initiatives for upliftment of differently abled people. He urged them to devise a mechanism so that these important segments of society achieve economic emancipation and self-reliance.
The Provincial President sought framing of rules under Rights to Personnel with Blindness Act 2016 in Jammu and Kashmir, which is a long standing demand of the Association.
Prof Kusum Lata Malik, Project Director presented keynote address while Renu Nanda of Jammu University also spoke in the inaugural session.
Earlier, Mohinder Kumar Badiyal, President, Jammu Chapter of the National Federation of Blind gave an overview of the international conference.
Prominent among those present on the occasion included Dharamveer Singh Jamwal.
The inaugural function was followed be interactive sessions of the invited experts.
Around 500 scholars, authors of blind and civil society from across the country and abroad are participating in the two day conference
The conference will discuss wide range of disability issues pertaining to empowerment and enlighten in different fields such as educational, cultural economic, social, political and historical dimensions with gender perspectives.
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