International Day of Persons with Disabilities Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress
|
Dr Kshetrimayum Kala Singh
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed by United Nation General Assembly in 1992 by a resolution. 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 attitudinal) 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 indivi- sible part of all human rights and fundamental freedom.
The theme for 2025 is “Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress”. We should promote them to enjoy in all the developments of the society also include them in social and cultural programmes without any dis- crimination. We should work together for bringing the disabled to our society. To rescue them from difficulties, obstacles and sorrows is our prime duty.
Encouragingly with the adoption of the Political Declaration of the recent sustainable Development Goals Summit, world leaders have recommitted them- selves to achieving sustainable development and shared prosperity for all, by focusing on policies and actions that target the poorest and most vulnerable, in- cluding persons with disabilities.
We should help them in every way for participation and inclusion in Public Conference, Meeting, Gathering, Discussion, Festival so that they will get better and 'new ideas and knowledge. Later on they may become Leader of the Society and they will realise the taste and Value of surviving life. Also we should remember that steps were taken to increase the member of Disabled people working and to decrease the disability complement gap.
Imagine the world in 2030, fully inclusive of persons with disabilities.
In September 2015, the General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that includes 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). Building on the principle of “leaving no one behind”, the new Agenda emphasizes a holistic approach to achieving sustainable development for all. The SDGs also explicitly include disability and persons with disabilities 11 times.
Disability is reference in multiple parts of the SDGs, especially in education, growth and employment, inequality, accessibility of human settlements, as well as data collection and the monitoring of the SDGs.
Although, the word “disability” is not cited directly in all goals, the goals are indeed relevant to ensure the inclusion and development of persons with disabilities.
Five pillars of sustainable development are :
1. People : Women and girls with disabilities are acutely vulnerable to being left behind. An intersectional lens is crucial for fulfilling the pledge that no one will be left behind.
2. Planet : Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by the impact of climate change, owing to their greater likelihood of living in poverty, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Prosperity: Ensuring that adequate financial resources are allocated towards disability.
4. Peace: Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by conflict in several ways. To remedy this situation include the adoption of security council resolution 2475, which stipulates that respect for the human rights of persons with disabilities must be enriched.
5. Partnerships: No one will be left behind is fundamental. Success will require that all Member States, the United Nations of Persons with Disability work together to strengthen inter- national solidarity.
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 percent of the world's population or more than a billion people are living with disability including mental or neurological condition. Of the one billion population of persons with disabilities, 80% live in developing countries. The celebration is done by holding discussion, forums and campaigns relating disability and commu- nities are encouraged to organize meeting, talk and even performances in their local areas.
Several NGOs, CSOs, Many Govt and Semi Govt institutions are observing this day since 1992. Each and every country have the grades of disability rights. But in PORTUGAI, BRAZIL, SPAIN & FRANCE have high grades of disability rights.
We particularly the Media, Educationist, Law Makers, 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 disabiled face many barriers. 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 3rd December is highly essential.
We know that there are many famous persons with disability. Many of them are legendary actors, sports persons, politicians, musicians, athletes, articles, artists and writers. Some of them are Helen Adams Keller (Deef & 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, Mexican women known for many portraits & self portraits), Ira Singhal (Scoliosis, an 1AS Officer & MBA), Jyoti Amge (Dwarfism), 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, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in 2000).
The Blind teacher Mahesh Pandana of Orissa had passed the civil service examination of Orissa in September 2025 by virtue of his constant hope, patience and inspiration.
From the above lists we have confirmed that there are peoples who do not allow their disabling conditions 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.
CONCLUSION: The observance of this Day aims to promote as understanding of disability issues and mobilize support of the dignity, rights and Well-being of persons with disabilities. "IN A DAY WHEN YOU DON'T COME ACROSS ANY PROBLEM YOU CAN BE SURE THAT YOU ARE TRAVELLING ON A WRONG PATH."
The writer is past President Manipur Heart Care Society
The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was proclaimed by United Nation General Assembly in 1992 by a resolution. 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 attitudinal) 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 indivi- sible part of all human rights and fundamental freedom.
The theme for 2025 is “Fostering disability inclusive societies for advancing social progress”. We should promote them to enjoy in all the developments of the society also include them in social and cultural programmes without any dis- crimination. We should work together for bringing the disabled to our society. To rescue them from difficulties, obstacles and sorrows is our prime duty.
Encouragingly with the adoption of the Political Declaration of the recent sustainable Development Goals Summit, world leaders have recommitted them- selves to achieving sustainable development and shared prosperity for all, by focusing on policies and actions that target the poorest and most vulnerable, in- cluding persons with disabilities.
We should help them in every way for participation and inclusion in Public Conference, Meeting, Gathering, Discussion, Festival so that they will get better and 'new ideas and knowledge. Later on they may become Leader of the Society and they will realise the taste and Value of surviving life. Also we should remember that steps were taken to increase the member of Disabled people working and to decrease the disability complement gap.
Imagine the world in 2030, fully inclusive of persons with disabilities.
In September 2015, the General Assembly adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that includes 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). Building on the principle of “leaving no one behind”, the new Agenda emphasizes a holistic approach to achieving sustainable development for all. The SDGs also explicitly include disability and persons with disabilities 11 times.
Disability is reference in multiple parts of the SDGs, especially in education, growth and employment, inequality, accessibility of human settlements, as well as data collection and the monitoring of the SDGs.
Although, the word “disability” is not cited directly in all goals, the goals are indeed relevant to ensure the inclusion and development of persons with disabilities.
Five pillars of sustainable development are :
1. People : Women and girls with disabilities are acutely vulnerable to being left behind. An intersectional lens is crucial for fulfilling the pledge that no one will be left behind.
2. Planet : Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by the impact of climate change, owing to their greater likelihood of living in poverty, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
3. Prosperity: Ensuring that adequate financial resources are allocated towards disability.
4. Peace: Persons with disabilities are disproportionately affected by conflict in several ways. To remedy this situation include the adoption of security council resolution 2475, which stipulates that respect for the human rights of persons with disabilities must be enriched.
5. Partnerships: No one will be left behind is fundamental. Success will require that all Member States, the United Nations of Persons with Disability work together to strengthen inter- national solidarity.
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 percent of the world's population or more than a billion people are living with disability including mental or neurological condition. Of the one billion population of persons with disabilities, 80% live in developing countries. The celebration is done by holding discussion, forums and campaigns relating disability and commu- nities are encouraged to organize meeting, talk and even performances in their local areas.
Several NGOs, CSOs, Many Govt and Semi Govt institutions are observing this day since 1992. Each and every country have the grades of disability rights. But in PORTUGAI, BRAZIL, SPAIN & FRANCE have high grades of disability rights.
We particularly the Media, Educationist, Law Makers, 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 disabiled face many barriers. 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 3rd December is highly essential.
We know that there are many famous persons with disability. Many of them are legendary actors, sports persons, politicians, musicians, athletes, articles, artists and writers. Some of them are Helen Adams Keller (Deef & 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, Mexican women known for many portraits & self portraits), Ira Singhal (Scoliosis, an 1AS Officer & MBA), Jyoti Amge (Dwarfism), 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, Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh in 2000).
The Blind teacher Mahesh Pandana of Orissa had passed the civil service examination of Orissa in September 2025 by virtue of his constant hope, patience and inspiration.
From the above lists we have confirmed that there are peoples who do not allow their disabling conditions 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.
CONCLUSION: The observance of this Day aims to promote as understanding of disability issues and mobilize support of the dignity, rights and Well-being of persons with disabilities. "IN A DAY WHEN YOU DON'T COME ACROSS ANY PROBLEM YOU CAN BE SURE THAT YOU ARE TRAVELLING ON A WRONG PATH."
The writer is past President Manipur Heart Care Society