Disability News India (DNI)
Disability News India (DNI), is a disability News service dedicated to providing a quality up-to-date information to the Indian Disability. DNI's news section is updated two times a week, though we also add breaking stories as and when they occur.
Disability News India – April 2008 Issue
- Denied entry, DU gymnast cries foul
- Disabled minor raped by neighbour in E Delhi
- Disabled girl raped in Naswadi tribal school
- Walkathon for Hemophilia Awareness on the occasion of "World Hemophilia Day"
- Mobile court for disabled people
- UoP jobs for disabled soldiers
- PSEB comes to disabled boy's aid
- Disabled persons protest
- UN treaty to protect the rights of the world's disabled people to take effect
- Bihu gift for disabled people
- Teaching through technology
- Park for visually–impaired on cards
- Shimla to have Institute for Disability Management and Rehabilitation
- Wounded Valley has no disabled–friendly policy
- Champion disabled swimmer has no pool to practise
Denied entry, DU gymnast cries foul
NEW DELHI, 14 Apr 2008: In 2007, when Smitha Babu represented the Delhi University (DU) in
an All India inter–university championship, she had little idea that a
year later, she would be fighting the same varsity for admission to one
of its courses.
The sportsperson, who represented DU in gymnastics from 2005–07 in
various inter–university championships, sought admission in MA
(psychology) last year. Says Babu: "Since I had got injured during
practice, I asked for extra time during the entrance exam." However,
this was denied to her, despite which Babu sat for the exams.
"When I went to take admission, I was told that I couldn't join as I had
applied under both the physically handicapped and sports quota category,
" adds Babu. She claims she had never applied under disability quota, and in fact, had been recommended by the director,
physical education, for the sports quota.
Authorities claim she did not meet the entrance criteria and was
therefore denied admission. Says Ashum Gupta, head of the Psychology
department, "The decision was taken by the admission committee, as she
didn't fulfil the admission criteria." Gupta however admits that for
candidates applying under sports quota, relaxation in eligibility is
made. "But for that, the sports committee should have recommended her
and not just the director of physical education," adds Gupta.
The director of physical education, Prof J S Naruka admits he had
recommended Babu. "Yes, I had sent her name under the sports quota, but
I believe she was denied admission due to some technicality," says the
director. He also says DU has relaxed norms for admission for
sportspersons. Caught in the bureaucratic muddle is Babu, who says she's
already lost a year because of the university's attitude.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Back to TopDisabled minor raped by neighbour in E Delhi
New Delhi, April 13 A 12–year–old girl, who is mentally disabled, and
hearing and speech impaired, was raped in her east Delhi home in the
early hours of Sunday. She was going to toilet when her neighbour
attacked her and raped her, police said.
The accused, Sandip Rawat, who lives in the same building, is absconding.
The girl lives with her family on the first floor of their rented
accommodation in the New Kondli area. Around 2.30 am on Sunday, she woke
up her grandmother and signalled her to take her to the toilet on the
second floor, which they share with other tenants.
"We were in the corridor leading to the toilet when this man jumped on
us. I fell down as he pushed me. He then tied me up with a dupatta and
took my granddaughter to the bathroom," the girl's grandmother told
the police.
Sandip Rawat stayed with his elder brother's family on the second floor
of the house. A senior officer said he must have heard the girl and her
grandmother climbing the stairs. He got out of his flat, locked the door
from outside and waited for them, the officer added.
The victim's mother said she did not hear any noise. "I was sleeping
and our fan was making a lot of noise. When I finally sensed something
was wrong, I went upstairs and found my mother–in–law lying on the
ground, all tied up, and the bathroom door ajar. I rushed there and
found my daughter in a pool of blood," she said.
The police said the girl's mother raised an alarm but the accused
managed to flee.
The police were called in and they rushed the girl to the Guru Teg
Bahadur Hospital, where doctors confirmed rape. She had lost a lot of
blood, they said.
The police said Rawat, a resident of Garhwal, Uttarakhand, drives a mini
–bus. They said the two families knew each other and got along well.
Their landlady lives on the ground floor. She, too, told the police that
she did not hear any noise.
The victim's father sells bangles in the area for a living. He was in
Agra when the incident took place. They family of six ? the girl, her
parents, two siblings and her grandmother ? is from Agra.
The police have registered a case against Rawat and detained his brother.
The girl has been mentally disabled since birth and has hearing and
speech disability. According to the police, her condition is stable but
she is in a state of shock.
Source: http://www.expressindia.com
Back to TopDisabled girl raped in Naswadi tribal school
Vadodara, April 13 In yet another incident of rape of a minor tribal
girl in the state, a 14–year–old disabled student of
Ashramshala has allegedly been raped by its employee in the school
premises in Ratanpur village of Vadodara's Naswadi taluka.
According to the Naswadi police, the incident occurred on April 10. The
girl, whose right hand and leg are dysfunctional, told the police that
the accused, Mansigh Mohan (28), accosted her after school hours on
Thursday. He dragged her to an empty room and repeatedly raped her.
The police said that Mohan, before letting the girl go, warned her not
to tell anybody about the incident. Later that night, the girl's parents
realised she was not feeling well. When they talked to her, she told
them about the incident. They immediately registered a police complaint.
The police arrested Mohan on Saturday night from his house in Ratanpur.
Sub–Inspector B M Chaudhary said: "We got the medical tests on the girl
done (which confirmed rape) and immediately began discreet enquires
about the accused. He is presently in judicial custody."
He added that though the accused did not confess to the crime, but the
police had ample evidence against him.
Source: http://www.expressindia.com
Back to TopWalkathon for Hemophilia Awareness on the occasion of "World Hemophilia Day"
Hemophilia Federation (India) is celebrating World Hemophilia Day on April 17, 2008 and to mark this occasion there is a 'Walkathon' being organized between 09:00 to 11:00 AM from Jantar Mantar to Ranjit Singh Flyover via Tolstoy Marg, New Delhi. Smt. Meira Kumar, Honorable Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, has kindly given her consent to become our Chief Guest and flag off the Walkathon.
Walkathon for Hemophilia Awareness on the occasion of "World Hemophilia Day", organised by Hemophilia Federation India in association with Baxter India, Nestle India, Reliance Energy and MG Motors.
Mobile court for disabled people
Jamshedpur, April 10: The social welfare department would conduct a mobile court in the city next month to redress grievances of disabled persons.
To be organised for the first time, the court's bench would comprise members of state judiciary services, senior government officials and officials of social organisations.
The decision to hold the mobile court was taken after a meeting between state disability commissioner Satish Chandra and representatives of various social organisations at JRD Tata Sports Complex here today. The Tata Steel officials also attended the meeting.
"The nature of grievances may vary from reservation in the service sector to admission in an educational institution," said Chandra, who was in the city to assess the ongoing welfare activities for disabled persons.
Chandra announced a hike in the monthly stipend for disabled persons of BPL families from Rs 200 to Rs 300.
Bihar transport minister Ajit Kumar, who accompanied Chandra, advocated the accessibility to public transport with ease.
He announced that long distance buses between Bihar and Jharkhand would be made disabled–friendly.
Chandra said an industrial sensitisation programme would be conducted in May, where private companies operating in the city would be sensitised about the abilities of disabled persons.
"NGOs would visit various private companies and make them aware of our manpower skills," said Arun Singh, the district president of Jharkhand Viklang Manch.
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com
Back to TopUoP jobs for disabled soldiers
PUNE, 9 Apr: The University of Pune (UoP) will give priority to disabled
soldiers in its forthcoming recruitment of 400 non–teaching staff.
"This is our opportunity to meet the government norm of filling up the 3
per cent job quota for disabled persons," said UoP
vice–chancellor Narendra Jadhav at the launch of a diploma course in
industrial administration and services management, exclusively designed
for disabled soldiers.
The one–year full–time diploma would be conducted at the Queen Mary's
Technical Institute (QMTI), an inter–services organisation for imparting
vocational training to disabled soldiers, at Khadki.
The university's department of management sciences (PUMBA) will
implement the course that will have a 13 basic management courses
component in the first six months followed by a two–month stint each for
industrial contact and specialisation studies. Security and office
administration, retail management, banking and insurance, infotech and
travel and tourism will be the areas of specialisation.
Jadhav said, the joint initiative by PUMBA and QMTI was aimed at taking
the vocational training offered by the latter a step ahead to raise the
employability of the soldiers, who are rendered disabled while in action.
Pune sub–area commander and QMTI chief Brig R.J. Sharma said, the
institute has set a vision for transforming itself from a skill–based to
a knowledge–based organisation to cater to the job requirements of the
emerging globalised scene.
The PUMBA has designed the diploma course on the basis on a three–week
survey by a 13–member team of first–year MBA students for collecting
feedback on corporate approach to extending jobs to disabled ex–
servicemen.
The team visited 61 companies, mostly in the manufacturing sector
considering that industrial training is QMTI's forte, and a few in
infotech and business process outsourcing, retail and media sectors, in
and around Pune and Pimpri–Chinchwad.
Vinudas Akde, who led the PUMBA survey team, said among the firms
visited were the ICICI, Infosys and DCM Toyota.
According to PUMBA head C.M. Chitale, the survey showed very little
awareness among the corporates about organisations like the QMTI.
Although 33 per cent of the companies had ex–servicemen on their roll
and 15 per cent were disabled persons, not a single one of them was
disabled soldier.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Back to TopPSEB comes to disabled boy's aid
Patiala, April 08F The Punjab State Electricity Board (PSEB) has turned philanthropic as it came to the aid of a disabled boy from Mansa village, who had lost both his arms.
The aid was in the form of a cheque to help the boy tide over his study expenses for a year, and was handed over to him and his father by PSEB chairman Y S Ratra here today.
The boy Titu, son of Bhagtu Singh of Maghania village in Mansa district writes with his mouth and hopes to study further.
However, as his parents were unable to bear the expenses of his studies, the PSEB has decided to bear all the expenses incurred by him till he becomes a major.
Board members J S Sekhon and G S Sra were also present on the occasion. Ratra said the PSEB will try to extend more help to poor and children like Titu.
Source: http://www.expressindia.com
Back to TopDisabled persons protest
Giridih, April 8: When apathy surpasses the tolerance limit, calm and
docile persons also resort to protest. Giridih Sadar hospital was a
witness to one such rising today.
Disabled persons coming from far–flung areas to collect
certificates of their disabilities every month from Sadar hospital were
denied their due on the pretext of Sarhul festival today.
Disgusted, they squatted on a dharna before the entrance of the hospital.
When all disabled persons and their attendants staged
dharna for more than two hours, the civil surgeon, V.K. Singh, finally
ordered three doctors, Dr Imran Shikoh, Dr S.B. Chaudhary and Dr S.C.
Sharma ? to issue certificates to disabled.
Disabled persons are issued these certificates on the
8th and 25th of each month. With the help of these certificates they can
apply for jobs and avail concession from railways while travelling.
When disabled persons came to collect the certificates
on March 25, they were denied the same on the pretext of municipality
elections. They were told to come today.
"We should have been informed about this earlier," said Mahendra
Pandit, who came from Saria, around 60km off district headquarters, with
two disabled people relatives.
"Since January, no certificate has been issued for one or the other
reason. In these three months we have spent Rs 3,000 to get a
certificate, but to no avail. When we came today we were told that today
being a holiday for Sarhul festival, we will have to come on the next
date," rued Pandit.
One Sanjay Yadav, who has lost both hands, travelled 90km to reach Sadar
hospital.
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com/
Back to TopUN treaty to protect the rights of the world's disabled people to take effect
UNITED NATIONS (AP) – The first human rights treaty of the 21st century, creating an international bill of rights for the world's 650 million people with disabilities, has won enough signatures to go into effect.
With Ecuador's ratification on Friday, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is now set to enter into@force on May 3. The treaty had needed 20 countries to ratify it for that to happen; Jordan, Tunisia and Ecuador also ratified it earlier this week.
Louise Arbour, the U.N.'s high commissioner for human rights in Geneva, Switzerland, said the legally binding treaty fills an important gap in international human rights legislation.
More than 100 other nations also have signed the treaty, agreeing to follow its requirements, but have not ratified it. The United States and some other nations will not sign it because they say that would dilute the strength of their own laws.
While we certainly recognize that other states will consider the Convention a useful tool in developing their own national laws, the U.S. has had a strong commitment to the rights of persons with disabilities, as evident in the 1991 passage of the historic Americans with Disabilities Act, granting equal access and protection to all persons with disabilities,@said Richard Grenell, spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations.
The treaty's purpose is to encourage the integration of physically and mentally disabled people into the daily lives of communities, rather than excluding them from education, jobs, and everyday life.
The treaty requires countries that sign onto it to guarantee freedom from exploitation and abuse for the disabled, and to protect rights they already have such as voting for the blind and wheelchair–accessible buildings.
It also guarantees that the disabled have the inherent right to life on an equal basis with the able–bodied, and requires countries to guarantee equal legal protection and to prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability.
Countries must also ensure the equal right of the disabled to own and inherit property, to control their financial affairs, and to privacy over their personal lives.
"It aims to promote respect for their inherent dignity,"said Sha Zukang, the U.N.'s undersecretary–general for economic and social affairs.
About 10 percent of the world's population lives with a disability, and the number is increasing with population growth. They constitute the world's largest minority, and 80 percent live in developing countries, many in poverty, according to the U.N. Development Program.
The campaign for the treaty's adoption was led by disability rights activists and the governments of New Zealand, Ecuador and Mexico.
"Out of 30 million people, Ecuador has 1.6 million disabled people. Therefore, we believe it's a state responsibility to insure their rights," said Ecuador's U.N. Ambassador Maria Fernanda Espinosa. "I think it's not a coincidence that our vice president is a disabled person"
The other 19 countries that have ratified the treaty are: Bangladesh, Croatia, Cuba, El Salvador, Gabon, Guinea, Hungary, India, Jamaica, Jordan, Mexico, Namibia, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, San Marino, South Africa, Spain and Tunisia.
On the Net UN: www.un.org/disabilities
Source: http://www.pr–inside.com
Back to TopBihu gift for disabled people
April 1: The Centre has released Rs 12.14 lakh to the Bharat Vikash Parishad to set up a rehabilitation centre for disabled people in Dhubri. The centre will open after Rongali Bihu.
The Dhubri district administration has agreed to provide four rooms in the Dhubri Civil Hospital to the centre and the Dhubri Zila Parishad has sanctioned Rs 2 lakh for repairs. The first instalment of Rs 1 lakh has already been released.
Dhubri is among the 49 districts in the country selected in 2006 by the Union ministry of social justice and empowerment for rehabilitation centres for disabled people.
The Bharat Vikash Parishad has constituted a separate unit, the District Disability Rehabilitation Centre with a retired chief manager of the State Bank of India, Partho Pratim Datta, as the nodal officer for implemention of the scheme.
Datta said the first instalment of Rs 12.14 lakh received from the central government to implement the project was kept in a joint savings account with district administration in the main SBI branch in Dhubri.
"Repairs on the building will start soon and we will most likely open the DDRC sometime after Rongali Bihu," he said.
Datta said steps are being taken to recruit people for the centre. The equipment will be installed soon after the renovation is over.
The Dhubri administration had formed a district management team to select one NGO from among the organisationsworking for disabled people.
The team invited three NGOs and selected Bharat Vikash Parishad to set up the centre .
NGO sources said the Dhubri unit of the Bharat Vikash Parishad which has been rendering services to the down trodden as well as disabled people for last seven years, had to sign an agreement with the DMT.
The agreement was later sent to the President, assuring him of total commitment in the implementation of the project.
Source: http://www.telegraphindia.com
Back to TopTeaching through technology
Laptops are being used to teach reading and writing in the duration of
30 days with the help of multimedia under a literacy programme called
'Tara Akshar literacy,' by Development Alternatives under the Poorest
Areas Civil Society (PACS) programme. Around 42,000 rural women across
the country have benefited through this programme.
Says Kiran Sharma, project director, PACS:"In four weeks' time, we have
trained the women who had never picked up a pencil in their life. Today,
they can read and write." Sharma further added that the first 18 days
are spent inculcating sounds of letters and letter groups by using
advanced memory techniques on a laptop and the next 12 days are spent on
enhancing the ability to read words and sentences and on the last day,
students are assessed through a written test.
Harpyari, 34, feels elated, as she does not have to depend on others to
tell her which bus to board, she can read the number herself now." I
can also read letters and tell the time myself," she adds.
Similarly, multiple mouse on a single computer are being used under a
project by Microsoft that allows multiple coloured cursors to co–exist
on the monitor, along with numerous games with educational content.
Trials with both single–mouse and multiple–mouse suggested that children
are more engaged when in control of a mouse. Therefore, multiple–mouse
increases overall engagement, or connection with on–screen content.
Explains Vidya Natampally, director (strategy), Microsoft Research India,
" A distinct feature observed in the use of computers in schools or
rural kiosks in developing countries are the high student–to–computer
ratio. Here, multiple–mouse system helps to a great extent."
Similarly, another project – Digital Study Hall (done in collaboration)
seeks to help disadvantaged children from slum and rural schools." We
digitally record live classes by grassroots–level teachers and
distribute them to rural and slum schools, on DVDs," adds Natampally. It
is a collaborative project between computer scientists and education
experts.
Computers are extensively used in all formal and non–formal schools of
Deepalaya, an NGO. Under its Motorola Project, electronic boards with
electronic pens are used by subject specialists that enable them to take
multiple classes simultaneously in two other schools.
Informs T K Mathew, secretary and chief executive, Deepalaya: "Among our
various projects using technology, one of them uses latent talent of
students wherein students perform (like sing or dance), shoot it, and
further, view it on screen which helps in their greater involvement
besides enabling them to evaluate themselves."
He further added that for the speech and hearing impaired, there is a
special software that enables learning faster through the use of varied
sounds and images.
Similarly, Millennium Schools (Educomp) provide a WiziQ platform,
enabling students to connect live anywhere in the world using the
virtual classroom software through live audio–video communication, chat,
content sharing, and session recording capabilities.
In a virtual classroom, there is an interactive synchronised
collaborative environment where one can communicate on one–to–one basis
using a microphone, chat and share whiteboard (similar to a blackboard).
Informs Rita Kaul, principal, Noida, Millenium Schools:"One of our
teaching aids includes modules, prepared on every subject, which are
interactive and engaging for students. Besides interactive boards, we
also have internet access in classrooms wherein teachers can access
information in class as well, if required."
She added that plans are underway to get online lectures from IIT Madras
to these schools. Similarly, Edulearn, a Learning Management System
(LMS) suitable for primary and secondary schools includes features like
quiz, homework, forum, blogs, course packaging, and podcasting among
others.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
Back to TopPark for visually–impaired on cards
Chandigarh, March 28: The city will soon have a park for visually–impaired. The park will be the first of its kind in the country. The approval for the same was given by the Municipal Corporation during the House meeting today.
The idea was mooted by Councillor Dr A P Sanwaria after the study tour to Singapore and Bangkok. The report of the tour was submitted in the house.
The park will have signs written in Braille. The blind people would be able to make use of touch and smell senses to enjoy the beauty of the park. Recorded messages would also be played to guide the visitors.
The councillors passed the agenda of the house meeting without much debate. However, some councillors expressed displeasure at the functioning of the ward committees. It was proposed that whenever a meeting is held MC officials and preferably policemen of the beat should be present. This would help in speedy solving of the problems. It was also suggested that some official from UT Administration should also be present.
Source: http://www.expressindia.com
Back to TopShimla to have Institute for Disability Management and Rehabilitation
The Himachal Pradesh government has granted no–objection certificate to JM Institute of Speech and Hearing, Patna, for opening of an Institute of Disability Management and Rehabilitation at Shimla on the recommendation of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India.
Revealing this, Sarveen Chaudahry, minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, said that the institute had been working in this field since last 25 years and was being supported by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India for its projects. She said that it was running various human resource development programmes of Rehabilitation Council of India and universities since many years.
The minister said that the organization had requested for allotment of at least 10 acres of land in Shimla as well as recommendation of the HP University for affiliation of various courses in the area of disability management and rehabilitation. She said that the organization had also requested for the help of state government in finding a suitable accommodation to start courses and other activities from the academic session–2008–09.
Chaudhary said the matter was under active consideration of the state government, which would help in complying with the directions of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh regarding the implementation of Section–49 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1955.
Source: http://www.himvani.com
Back to TopWounded Valley has no disabled–friendly policy
Srinagar, March 27:Even as the armed conflict in Kashmir has rendered hundreds of disabled@people, there's hardly any policy for the victims. Besides, 40 percent and above disability, required for reservation in government jobs, many believe, is debatable.
Many institutions like banks, educational institutions, colleges, and public and private establishments are not disabled–friendly. The transport system is not in tune with the needs and requirements of the people suffering due to some deformity.
According to experts, there is not a well–defined policy for disabled people that would cater to their genuine demands. Even appropriate data about their number doesn't exist.
"The institutions that provide vocational or regular trainings or other services to the disabled people are not disabled–friendly. This is an open secret. Movement of these people inside buildings, banks, educational institutions and other public places without any facility creates problems for them. They feel dependant and dejected," believes Javaid Ahmad, a government official.
"We face a lot of difficulties while moving up and down the buildings, be it educational institutions or banks. An alternative has to be looked into," emphasized Kausar, a disabled student.
"All constructions should be made in accordance with the need of disabled people so that they can move at ease. It is not only ramps that would make a difference but other facilities too are required at the earliest," said Abdul Qayyum, a social worker.
As per government norms, 40 percent and more disability entitle disabled people to seek reservation in jobs, educational institutions and others. Those below that percentage are not entertained, and on the other hand people with higher degree of disability (having multiple disabilities) do not come under its purview. In most of the cases, it has been observed that they turn to be burden on family as well as society.
Post–polio residual paralysis, locomotive disability, stammered voice and mental retardation mostly categorize the disabled population in the state. Also, those disabled people by the ongoing conflict constitute a sizeable section of the society.
Official records put the number of disabled people to be more than three lakhs that roughly constitute three percent of the population. But much has not been done for their rehabilitation.
To complete the basic formalities required for reservation, these people are tossed from one office to another. It begins from getting a medical certificate from the concerned chief medical officer (CMO). This is no less a testing time for them.
"We have to go to the CMO office a number of times, at times to deputy commissioner office. The entire process is so hectic and cumbersome that many a time people get dejected and leave the process midway. Rules ought to be made flexible and convenient for us so that we could pursue our case conveniently," Abdul Majid, a disabled man, told etala'at.
Source: http://www.etalaat.net/english/index.php
Back to TopChampion disabled swimmer has no pool to practise
Kolkata: It takes grit to overcome disability and compete in the Paralympics. Yet many disabled athletes in India fight long odds to compete in their sport. Swimmer Vinod Singh, who will represent India at the Beijing Paralympics later this year told his story to CNN–IBN.
Vinod Singh was born without both his arms. He uses his legs to do all his chores, from opening books to dialling the telephone. But despite his disability, Vinod has managed to pursue his dream of being a world–class swimmer.
He has won a silver and bronze medal at the World Wheel Chair and Amputed Games in September last year, and will also be taking part in the Paralympics in Beijing. Yet Vinod remains unhappy.
"We represent the country but our deeds are not recognised by the Government. I have brought more medals than any general swimmer, but we remain deprived all the time," Vinod reveals.
Disabled athletes like Vinod have to wait for months before they are reimbursed even the money they spend out of their pockets to take part in international events.
Source: http://www.ibnlive.com/
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