On December 3, the Jammu Kashmir RTI Movement, in collaboration with Koshish (a non-governmental organization) and the Blind Welfare Trust, arranged a celebration in Srinagar to honor the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
As the event’s special guest, former Special Information Commissioner G. R. Sufi emphasized the importance of activists and members of the RTI Movement and Blind Welfare Trust standing up for the rights of people with disabilities (PWDs).
He discussed the Islamic view on disability, stating that the Quran makes reference to the fact that crippled individuals are unique. Moulana Azad Ahmad, Chairman of the Iqra Academy Trust, Khatir Gund Chadoora, and a religious expert, backed his ideas.
According to Dr. Raja Muzaffar, Chairman of the Jammu and Kashmir RTI Movement, depression affects a large number of people with disabilities, and this has to be handled seriously. According to him, pupils with vision impairments have trouble writing tests because they are unable to locate a scribe.
During the event, a few visually impaired pupils brought up this concern.
The chairman of the J&K Blind Welfare Trust, Showkat Ahmad Lone, made a formal plea to the government to uphold the full text of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPWD Act). He said that blind cricket players from Kashmir were not given an equal opportunity to play for J&K in para-cricket competitions. He requested that LG Manoj Sinha step in. Additionally, he praised the RTI Movement volunteers’ efforts to support their organization and visually impaired activists.
The advocacy for the execution of the RPWD Act was also emphasized by Dr. Rouf Mohiudeen Director Koshish. He cast a thank-you vote. During the session, a number of social activists and blind activists also talked.
On this special occasion, a number of activists and members of the Blind Welfare Trust were congratulated by former CIC G. R. Sufi and Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, who also presented them with keepsakes.
