KOHIMA, OCT 1:
Nagaland Governor Nand Kishore Yadav on Thursday called for greater efforts to empower persons with disabilities and ensure equal access to education, skills, employment and public services.
Addressing the 100th Regional Parents’ Meet 2026, hosted by the Nagaland Parents Association for the Disabled (NAPAD) here, Yadav said care for persons with disabilities begins within families but must lead to empowerment, enabling them to learn, work, participate and lead with dignity and independence, according to a statement issued by PRO Lok Bhavan.
The meet was organised on the theme, ‘From Care to Empowerment: Building Inclusive Communities through Strong Families and Collective Action.’
Yadav said inclusion should be reflected in schools, public buildings, transport, workplaces, digital platforms and community spaces.
He called for coordinated efforts by the government, educational institutions, healthcare providers, employers, civil society and communities.
Emphasising early identification and intervention, he called for closer coordination among families, Anganwadi centres, schools, health workers and medical professionals.
Referring to Nagaland’s difficult terrain and dispersed settlements, Yadav said disability services must extend beyond state and district headquarters to villages and communities.
He called for decentralised approaches and greater use of technology and tele-consultation to bring specialised healthcare, rehabilitation, assistive devices and inclusive education closer to people.
Yadav also called for a change in social attitudes towards persons with disabilities, saying they need respect and equal opportunities rather than sympathy alone.
He emphasised that persons with disabilities should have a voice in decisions concerning their lives and that their experiences should inform policies and programmes.
He acknowledged the efforts of parents in securing therapy, education and accessibility for their children and congratulated PARIVAAR-NCPO, Maulana Azad National Urdu University, the State Commission for Persons with Disabilities, NAPAD and other partner organisations for organising the 100th meet in Nagaland. (Source: PTI)
