SHILLONG, DEC 3: Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma said the government would come up with a policy which will ‘truly-empower’ Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and will also publish an annual report in the form of a book to showcase their achievements and talents.
“We would come up with a true empowerment policy and also propose to have a special empowerment programme exclusively designed to empower the Persons With Disabilities in the state,” Sangma said while addressing the International Day for Persons with Disabilities held on Wednesday at U Soso Tham auditorium.
Stating that it is not enough to have only ‘brilliant minds’ to run the government but also requires a ‘kind heart’, Sangma said the different programmes of the government conceptualized for the PWDs are products of both brilliant mind and a kind heart.
Overwhelmed by the optimistic attitude and the ‘unsung talents’ of the PWDs in the state, Sangma promised, “An annual report of all these friends must be available as an attractive book for people of the state and the world to see, the kind of optimism they have… their photos must be captured and also display as well.”
Sangma’s statement came after he saw the PWDs talents as they sang and dancing during the function. Stating there are talents in them despite being physically challenged, he said, “This sent a strong message to all people who are as fit as all of us but still tend to lose hope and are a burden on others.”
Sangma went to point out the quantum of school drop outs and young boys and girls that surrenders before life’s challenges. “Therefore, this programme if organize in a big mega way will be as a strong inspiration to all those people who are physically fit but still tend to lose hope through the persons with disabilities,” he concurred.
He said he will direct the social welfare department to sit with him and start thinking big and organize the celebration in much bigger scale. He was of the opinion that looking at the PWDs will be a moral boost and inspiration for others.
Sangma further said that the social welfare department should also design future courses to take the PWDs to a higher level and create opportunity for all those who have talents in different skills.
Sangma said, “We should get them the best master trainers and make them the best artists in performing arts and artisans in other skills.”
Assuring that the state government is with them (PWDs), Sangma said the 3 per cent reservation for them will be implemented in letter and spirit adding he has drawn lots of motivation by their will power and determination..
For chief minister and Meghalaya government chief adviser DD Lapang, who grace the occasion as guest of honour, expressed his hope that the programmes being taken up by the state government would not only inculcate the feeling of social security, but also would infuse in them a sense of expectation for a better future.
As part of the day’s programme, seven PWDs were felicitated for their outstanding achievements by the dignitaries including the chief minister, DD Lapang, and parliamentary secretary Justine Dkhar, among others who also distributed aids, appliances and cheques to PWDs under Chief Minister’s Social Assistance Scheme.
Earlier, the Social Welfare department director HM Shangpliang distributed t-shirts to the participants in the programme sponsored by the Shillong Round Table and supported by Singhania Printing Press.
The day-long programme was marked by enthralling songs and dances presented by the PWDs from East Khasi hills, West Khasi hills, South West Khasi hills, West Jaintia hills and Ri Bhoi districts.- By Our Reporter
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