World Disability Day 2011 observed

ONE DAY SEMINAR

Title:        “Mainstreaming disability in Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2015 & beyond through CBID approach”

Venue:    NDF office, Bhanghwar colony VIP Rd. Nawabshah

Date:       10^th December 2011

Sponsored By:        Telenor Pakistan

Proceedings

The Nawabshah Disability Forum (NDF) organized one day seminar on awareness on disability to celebrate international Day of people with disabilities under title “Mainstreaming disability in Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2015 & beyond CBID approach” with collaboration of TELENOR Pakistan. The Assistant Deputy Commissioner Mr. Akhtar Hussain Qureshi graced the occasion as chief guest. While Mr. Muslim Farooqui District Officer Social Welfare, Mr. Asad Memon Professor Quaid-i-Azam Law College Nawabshah, Mr. Abdul Raheem from Special education attended as guest in honour. Number of NGO/DPO activists, NDF members participated in large number on the occasion. Mr. Akhtar Hussain Qureshi said in his speech that after the 18^th amendment the devolution process was made; now the provincial ministry should ensure the rights of people with disability. He mentioned that after hectic efforts of NDF the local government is now implementing reserved 2% job quota in all departments. He further told that inclusive society is need of hour, before this seminar there were many different concepts of disability in my mind but today I realized that those were all wrong perceptions about disability as per definition of MDGs, UNCRPD, CBR & CBID, people with disability are not beggars but contributors in the society. He maintained that local level administration will do its possible efforts to keep continue support people with disabilities, NDF vision & Al-Amina Educational Scholarship for girl students with disabilities & keep continue encourage private sector companies/Firms/Mills/cellular companies like Telenor for their kind support for the cause. Earlier Mr. Abid Lashari President NDF welcomed the guests and paid heartiest thanks of Telenor for their support, organizing such programme to mark the international day of people with disabilities at grass root & rural area level in Nawabshah. He said the Telenor is only cellular company that has disability advisor council in Pakistan, the advisor also with disability. He said many programmes are under operation for people with disabilities like KHUDDAR PAKISTAN, PEHLA QADAM, HUM QADAM and others. He said many PWDs are empowered as employees. He said the Telenor is example for other companies, to come forward to initiate the programmes for mainstreaming disability in development sector.  

Mr. Lashari told that the international day of people with disabilities was declared in 1981, to mark as to ensure rights of people with disabilities as fundamental human rights. He further said that the eight (08) Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were signed in November 2000 by 164 UN member countries to ensure the development till 2015. The purpose of 08 MDGs was (1) To eradicate extreme poverty and hunger (2) To achieve universal primary education (3) To promote gender equality and empower women (4) To reduce child mortality (5) To improve maternal health (6) To combat HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other diseases (7) To ensure environmental sustainability and (8) To develop a global partnership for development. The disability was declared as cross cutting in all 08 goals after 2005 summit. He mentioned that the inclusive environment can prevent impairment. He said after 18^th Amendment, the provincial government should realize the dignity & rights of people with disability as per MDGs 2015 with CBID approach. He mentioned his concern that government institutions do not have quality but only quantity. He said the Nawabshah has 03 institutions since 1981 but no any single student has completed his/her education till matriculation, to be able to get any job against reserved quota. He said the provincial ministry should take possible effective steps to meet universal standards in their institutions to make them unique & exemplary for the nation. Mr. Lashari further said that Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) is strategy to implement & ensure MDGs 2015 & Community Based Inclusive Development (CBID). He said as per five components of CBR, Health-Education-livelihood-Social & Empowerment, people with disabilities can be socially integrated in the society as equal partner. MR. Lashari announced the new programme of NDF “Al-Amina Educational Scholarship” to support transport expenses of poor girls with disability at all school levels in mainstream schools. He told that annually each girl will be paid PKR. 30000/ scholarship by NDF to ensure dignified access of girl students to the Schools.  Mr. Asad Memon said that people with disabilities should be treated as law of state as equal partner of society. The discrimination must be stopped for having disability. Mr. Muslim Farooqui said that disability is not name of inability. He said representatives of NDF are honour for us that they have promoted name of Pakistan in IA 2011. Mr. Abdul Raheem said that students with disability has talents, they must be imparted education with much care that they may be able to contribute in society like NDF members. Ms. Anna Iqbal Bhatti, General Secretary NDF told that NDF is working from local to international level. This is only organization in Pakistan which is registered in International Abilympics, the delegation from Pakistan led by NDF recent event IA 2011 in Seoul, South Korea. NDF has honoured to be ex-trainee of 1^st batch of CBID training by APCD. said that NDF is member of CBR-AP region. Ms. Asma Muneer Arain said that the efforts of NDF were highly appreciated by local government to International forums. The Abilis Foundation Finland has granted a project of NDF “Women Empowerment Center” first ever DPO in Pakistan. Ms. Sadia Arain said that NDF is playing its vital role in Pakistan Flood Response 2011 in Sindh Province. NDF with collaboration of UNICEF & SPO is engaged to deliver its services in education in flood hit areas. NDF is running 14 Temporary Learning Centers (TLCs) in far flung union councils of Tehsil Kazi Ahmed of Shaheed Benazir Abad. Ms. Nabila Lashari told that NDF is now mainstreaming DPO that is working with Sindh Education Foundation (SEF) to ensure inclusive education in rural areas. NDF has two schools under IELP & PPRS programmes at villages of UC Manharo to ensure quality education. Mr. Zahid Lashari paid vote of thanks of participants for their valuable time. The lunch was served to the participants. The Chief Guest visited the NDF office to witness on-going projects & activities.