The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed by United Nation General Assembly in 1992 by a resolution 47/3. The day aims to promote the rights and well – being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development to break down barriers (both Structural and altitudinal) for people with Disability. Also, this observation is done to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, Social, Economic and Cultural life. Above of all these, complete realization of the Human rights of all persons with disabilities is an inalienable, integral and indivisible part of all human rights and fundamental freedoms.
The Disabled persons are those who have a physical or mental impairment and the impairment has a substantial and long term adverse effect on the person’s ability to carry out normal day to day activities.
Common causes of physical disabilities are polio, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, spinal bifida, heart disease, lung or respiratory problems, mental illness including depression, diabetes, stroke, cancer, vision impairment, deaf or hard of hearing etc.
According to the WHO Report on Disability, 15 per cent of the world’s population or more than 1 billion people are living with a disability, of this number it is estimated 450 million are living with a mental or neurological condition. Of the one billion population of persons with disabilities, 80 per cent live in developing countries. The celebration is done by holding discussion, forums and campaigns relating disability and communities are encouraged to organise a meeting, talk and even performances in their local areas.
Several NGOs, civil society organizations, many government and semi-government institutions are observing this day with grand success in their localities every year since 1992. Each and every country has grades of disability rights. But in Portugal, Brazil, Spain and France have high grades of disability rights.
We particularly the media, educationist, lawmakers, senior citizens, civil society, organisations etc must try to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability and celebrate their achievements and contributions. The society remains vacant without recognizing them.
Many disabilities face many barriers to inclusion in many key aspects of society. As a result, people with disabilities do not enjoy access to society on an equal basis with others, which includes areas of transportation, employment and education as well as social and political participation. The right to participate in public life is essential to create stable democracies, active citizenship and reduce inequalities in society. An integrated approach is required to ensure that persons with disabilities are not left behind. So, this observance of IDPD on December 3 is highly essential.
We know that there are many famous persons with disability in this world. Some of them are Helen Adams Keller (deaf & blind, American writer & speaker with political activist), Joh Nash (paranoid schizophrenia, American mathematician who was awarded the 1994 Nobel Prize for Economics), Nick Vujicic (without limbs, Australian-American Christian evangelist and motivational speaker), Frida Kahlo (polio & spinabifida, Mexican women known for many portraits & self portraits), Ira Singhal (scoliosis, an IAS Officer & MBA), Abhishek Bachan (Dyslexia, Indian actor and Film producer), Jyoti Amge (Dwarfism, has Guinness world Record), Suresh H. Advani (polio, Doctor oncologist, Got Padma Bhushan Award), Bharat Kumar (without Left Arm, Got 2 international titles and more than 50 medals), Preethi Srinivasan (Quadriplegic Captain of the Under-19 Tamil Nadu Women’s Cricket team), Ravindra Jain (blind since birth, a veteran Indian music composer, lyricist and singer), S. Jaipal Reddy (polio, Indian politician who became India’s Union Minister), Ajit Jogi (Quadriplegia, IAS, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in 2000) etc.
From the above list, we have confirmed that there are people who do not allow their disabilities to become a roadblock in their lives. These disabled persons have self-confidence as their biggest strength and their courage get them success and fame.
(The views expressed are the writer’s own)
