The Nagaland State Disability Forum (NSDF) has called on the Government of Nagaland, the SDG Coordination Centre, and all public and private establishments and organisations to take immediate steps to address the systemic exclusion of the disabled community. “It is time for Nagaland to walk the talk on disability inclusion”, it said while reiterating the demand for demanding accountability and concrete steps towards a more inclusive, accessible, and just society
The Forum noted the recent coffee book launch event in Kohima, organised by the SDG team, where the State Disability Commissioner, Diethono Nakhro, one of the “inspiring” women honoured in the book, was “denied the basic dignity of attending the event due to the venue’s lack of accessibility.” Expressing its pain over the incident, the NSDF noted that the occasion that should have celebrated inclusivity “turned into a painful reminder of the pervasive exclusion faced by Persons with Disabilities in Nagaland.”
It has criticized the SDG team for failing to provide a basic accessible venue for such a high-profile event and questioned its dedication to its commitments for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, which explicitly include disability inclusion under the principle of “leave no one behind.”
Read more: Coffee Table book, Weaving Dreams – A Tribute to inspiring women of Nagaland, released
“Accessibility is not a favour to be gifted upon individuals. It is a right guaranteed under the law, specifically the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD), 2016”, the Forum stated while noting that public spaces in Nagaland, including government buildings, educational institutions, and event venues, etc, remain largely inaccessible.
Calling for all future events to be held in accessible venues, and implementing policies that promote the inclusion of disabled individuals at every level of society, the NSDF further urged the wider public “to reflect on their role in promoting accessibility and inclusion”.
True inclusivity requires more than just acknowledging the presence of Persons with Disabilities, it requires a concerted effort to break down the physical and attitudinal barriers that prevent them from fully participating in society, the Forum said.
Quoting the SCPC who said, “We need action, not apologies”, the Nagaland State Disability Forum said, “it is time for Nagaland to move beyond symbolic gestures and start implementing real, lasting change that ensures persons with disabilities are not just included in name, but in every aspect of society. Accessibility is a basic human right, and it is long overdue for Nagaland to make good on its commitments to uphold that right.”
Not inspiring enough to be included!
So, I was honoured to be included as one of the featured women in a Coffee Table Book titled ‘A Tribute to the Inspiring Women of Nagaland,’ being brought out by the SDG Coordination Centre, Nagaland.#AccessibilityMatters #DisabilityRights
🧵 pic.twitter.com/1CpqV0cpj2— Diethono Nakhro (@dnakhr0) October 24, 2024
