Access Audit training cum sensitisation programme for creating access for persons with disabilities concluded at SKICC

In concluding ceremony of Access Audit training at SKICC as per court directions in PIL filed by Javed Ahmad Tak, a big gathering of Honourable High Court judges, lawyers, NGO representatives, individuals, para legal workers and nodal officers for disability affairs from various departments sought the trainings from team of Nipun Foundation New Delhi. Nipun Malhotra the CEO of foundation presented various videos and presentations for the sensitisation of stakeholders, depicting the inaccessibility in market places and comparison between enabling and non disable friendly environment at public places. The team of foundation involved stake holders and volunteers to use assistive devices like wheelchairs crutches blindfold with white can and realize challenges faced by different types of persons with disabilities. The feedback was taken from the participants. The participants were highly touched after knowing challenges faced by persons with disabilities. Most of the nodal officers promised to work delicately for creating access for persons with disabilities in all respects. The nodal officer from law department promised of following the rule formation for Rights of persons with disabilities Act 2018 in the Law department while as the nodal officer from Higher Education department promised of creation of accessibility for all types of persons with disabilities in newly established Degree college buildings. In addition many organisations volunteered for being part of committee for monitoring enabling environment for persons with disabilities.

The member secretary leggal services authority jenab Mohammad Akram Choudhry said that state legal authority has created the legal aid clinics all around the state and all types of grievances of persons belonging to vulnerable sections of society are being helped out. Thus the persons with disabilities shall approach to such clinics for seeking support without paying a single penny.

Director Judicial Academy Shree Rajive Gupta said that judiciary is committed to work for the empowerment of persons with disabilities in all respects. The courts will be enabled with disable friendly environment soon.

Senior judge shree R. K Wattal said that communities should be highly sensitive about the rights of persons with disabilities and sidelining the designations all officers, judges and Individuals should create support system for persons with disabilities on humanitarian grounds.

Senior Principal sessions judge Mr Aijaz Ahmad Mir emphasised on the equality before law. He said that persons with disabilities are part and parcel of the society and all of us including government officials should deliver the services to the disabled persons on equal basis without any delays.

Javed Ahmad Tak litigant of PIL said that persons with disabilities are dependent on society and society needs to be aware of the rights of persons with disabilities. The officials should try to ease out process of development of persons with disabilities. The discriminative approach should go and rights based approach should be in force.

In the concluding session Ms Bala Jyoti Registrar Rules J&K High Court summed up the session. She said that recommendations will be made by judiciary to generate employment for educated persons with disabilities, provide hassle free loans in favour of persons with disabilities under various finance schemes and enhance social security in favour of deserving persons with disabilities. She said that development of underpriviliged classes is the development of society.

Commissioner for persons with disabilities Iqbal lone who was nodal officer for whole process assured participants that a committee will be formulated soon for the empowerment of persons with disabilities in Jammu and Kashmir. He also extended vote of thanks.