Platform for Disabled Persons Calls for Immediate Implementation of Disability Rights Act in Bengal

Kolkata: The State Platform for the Disabled, also known as Paschimbanga Rajya Pratibandhi Sammilani (PRPS), in its 9th conference, has called for immediate implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disability (RPWD) Act, 2016 in West Bengal.

The organisation also demanded the setting up of 19 special education schools in the state to facilitate learning for people with disabilities. To eradicate thalassemia, the organisation has urged the government to make pre-nuptial blood tests mandatory.

With this set of demands, the organisation has warned the government of fostering large-scale movement in the state if the demands are not met.

Last Saturday in Krishnanagar of Nadia district, the 9th state conference of PRPS started after a huge rally, which saw participation from large numbers of persons with disabilities. The conference area was named after iconic scientist Stephen Hawking. Noted advocate and MP Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya inaugurated the conference.

During the event, the draft politico organisational report was placed by Kanti Ganguly, the outgoing secretary of the PRPS. About 23 delegates from 22 districts of the state discussed the politico organisational report.

Associate organisations of PRPS such as the State Blind Association, Deaf and Dumb Association, and Jadavpur University Blind Association took part in discussions at the conference. Muralidharan, General Secretary of National Platform for Rights of the Disabled (NPRD ), also addressed the conference.

During the discussions, the participating organisations complained that the central government was not putting enough resources into opening new horizons in the country for disabled persons. 

The participants saluted the spirit shown by a large section of people with disability, who are maintaining their livelihood despite having physical disabilities.

Kanti Ganguly was re-elected as the General Secretary of PRPS at the conference, with Anirban Mukherjee as President.

Mukherjee, a school teacher with visual disability, told Newsclick about the bitter experiences he faces with interview boards or whenever he needs to go to the bank for official purposes. "Treat disability as a diversity, not as a deformity or deficiency," he said.

He added that the areas of concern like education, social security, infrastructure, transport accessibility, information and communication infrastructure, and employment grievance redressals are the core areas that need to be looked into to empower persons with disabilities.

The central government's fund allocations to matters of disability are decreasing, Mukherjee claimed, adding that the condition is far more pathetic in West Bengal. "The West Bengal government is completely apathetic and indifferent to the issues of persons with disability and is yet to enact the RPWD act,2016 in the state," he said.

He further said that PRPS has been in the movement for disability rights for the last few years. He added that PRPS has spread the organisation's reach to at least 70% of blocks in the state, and the rest will also be reached in the coming days. "Our call is to go to Panchayat level in the coming days," Mukherjee said to NewsClick. "What we need is to intensify the movement," he suggested as a way of addressing existing issues. Hence, in September, the organisation will take up agitational dharna programmes for 72 hours before all SDO offices in the state.

Among the main demands of the PRPS are increasing disability pension from Rs 1000 to Rs 3000, issuing disability certificates at the block level, issuing UDID (uniform disability identity card), and improving accessibility.