Dear Friends,

Another world disability day comes around the corner and with it an opportunity to come together and celebrate. I am sure all of you have a number of events planned and are busy with everything that will enable you to gear up for the big day. But the question is – do we have anything to celebrate this year or is it just symbolic. We know that last year December 3rd merited celebration for the historic Convention and the XIth Five year plan.

However, a year and some has gone by and what do we see around us? Let us look into ourselves and around us to see if we made good in this tryst with history of the disability movement. It is now a year since the UN Convention on the Rights of People with Disability has been ratified by India. It is more than a year since the XIth Five Year Plan (which has some very important mandates with respect to disability) has been passed. But NO steps have been taken by the Government to implement them!

How long before the system wakes up and understands that the Convention and the XIth Plan are not mere documents but policies that need to be adhered to. A year is a long enough time to wait and watch and hope. The XIth plan was prepared under the Chairmanship of the Prime Minister and bears his signature, his stamp of approval. It passed muster with the powers that be, yet nothing has been done. NOTHING!!! Yet we celebrate……

I urge all of you to join us in a peaceful dharna to raise three very basic demands; the first two are enshrined in the XIth Plan
- Each Ministry to have a clear cut plan on disability
- Each Ministry to allocate 3% resources on disability issues as mandated in the XIth plan
- Government to set up a separate Ministry for Disability

 

A good number of disability activists are joining hands with us. These are basic but crucial issues which affects a huge population of this country. The dharna will be held at India Gate on the 3rd of December and will begin at 3:00 p.m. We will come prepared to stay the night and continue the vigil for as long as it takes for the sector to get noticed and the demands met. It will be a cold winter night but we are determined and will sit it out.

For those of you who have access to the internet, I have a short message which I request you to see and disseminate as widely as possible. Please click on the links given below,

Part 1 http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=xrAWtvQfv_sIn
Part 2 http://in.youtube.com/watch?v=_ldg0Vkz5X8

I feel very strongly that each one of us who believe in the cause should take ownership and be there at India Gate in large numbers to ensure victory for the sector. As you are aware, numbers are very important for any movement. Politicians understand that language. We need to show that we (disabled people, their families, friends, relatives, well wishers, colleagues, classmates, teachers, neighbours) form a sizeable chunk of the population of this country.

Friends, let us not allow any limitation come our way. Let us make the effort. It is an important time in the history of the disability rights movement. We have come this far and we need to MARCH ON. We cannot allow what is rightfully ours to wither away, to gather dust, to remain merely on paper. Inclusive development / Equality is only possible only when each Ministry will own up to its responsibility towards the disability movement. These are very achievable goals; it only requires a little pressure. ARE YOU UP TO IT?

Time is short. But lets do it! Let us take ownership and demonstrate our beliefs, our faith and our passion by being there with our family & friends on 3rd December at India Gate!

- Javed Abidi