Kathmandu: Chairperson of the Women and Social Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, Kiran Kumar Shah, has emphasized the need to frame laws and policies in line with the constitutional provisions safeguarding the rights of people with disabilities. He stressed that Nepal’s Constitution ensures equal rights for all citizens, and therefore, people with disabilities must be provided access to education, healthcare, and employment opportunities. He said that guidelines for personal assistants should be made immediately.
Shah criticized Nepal’s failure to implement international treaties and agreements, pointing out discriminatory practices in the classification of identity cards issued to people with disabilities. He remarked, “The identity cards issued for people with disabilities are inherently discriminatory. This is a nationwide challenge. Separate procedures must be developed, and all levels of government should implement them.” He also assured that Nepal is ready to draft policies adhering to international standards to provide necessary support to the disabled community. Member of Parliament Sushila Sirpali called for discussions on pending procedural frameworks and urged the abandonment of the mindset that budget allocations are legally constrained. She highlighted the need for a dedicated procedural framework to ensure equitable distribution of resources for people with disabilities. Similarly, MP Bindhwasini Kansakar criticized the lack of accountability among organizations responsible for the rights of people with disabilities.
“Relevant organizations must take responsibility for ensuring the rights of the disabled. Even the role of the president of the National Federation of the Disabled is ineffective, which requires urgent discussion,” she stated. MP Kalpana Miya emphasized that issues in law enforcement often stem from bureaucratic hurdles, urging the Women and Social Affairs Committee to engage in detailed discussions with secretaries of relevant ministries to address these challenges effectively.
Former National Assembly Member Prakash Pant highlighted his long-standing advocacy for the rights of people with disabilities and stressed the importance of collective efforts to ensure progress. Advocate Mukunda Dahal pointed out that budgetary constraints have hindered the implementation of many laws and called for focused discussions with ministry officials to address these issues. Activist Dipak Bhandari accused the government of consistently hindering the implementation of agreements meant to benefit people with disabilities.
At an event organized by the Disability Rights Fund in collaboration with the Spinal Cord Injury Network Nepal, the National Indigenous Disabled Women’s Association Nepal, and the Center for Independent living of persons with disabilities Kathmandu, activist Sirjana KC underlined the importance of a mandatory guide for personal assistants for people with disabilities. Activist Lakpa Noru Sherpa expressed disappointment over the need for people with disabilities to take to the streets to demand their rights, calling for better implementation of existing policies rather than merely creating new ones. Most of the stakeholders in the program demanded to create pressure on the state to immediately create a guide related to personal assistants.
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