Mobile Court and Awareness Camp Held in Gumla to Address Rights and Grievances of Persons with Disabilities

Gumla: A one-day mobile court-cum-awareness camp for persons with disabilities was organised at Nagar Bhawan in Gumla on Saturday to facilitate the speedy resolution of their grievances and raise awareness about their legal and constitutional rights.

The programme was jointly organised by the Jharkhand government's Department of Women, Child Development and Social Security and the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.

The event was inaugurated by State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Kirtishree (IAS), Gumla Deputy Commissioner Dileshwar Mahto, Deputy Development Commissioner Animesh Ranjan and Civil Surgeon Dr Shambhunath Chaudhary, who jointly lit the ceremonial lamp. Children from the School for the Deaf and Mute in Gumla welcomed the guests with a special song. District Social Welfare Officer Aarti Kumari conducted the programme.

Addressing the gathering, State Commissioner Kirtishree said a dedicated cell had been established in the Commissioner's office to safeguard the legal and constitutional rights of persons with disabilities. She pointed out that many complaints received at the state level could be resolved at the district level. The mobile court initiative was designed to bring justice closer to people with disabilities and spare them the inconvenience and expense of travelling long distances to the state capital to seek redressal.

Deputy Commissioner Dileshwar Mahto said persons with disabilities possess exceptional talent and determination and are fully capable of achieving self-reliance when provided with appropriate opportunities and support. He thanked the State Commissioner for organising the camp at the district level and reaffirmed the administration's commitment to ensuring that no eligible beneficiary is left out of government welfare schemes.

Deputy Development Commissioner Animesh Ranjan highlighted the constitutional right to live with dignity under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. He also spoke about the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, under which the number of recognised disability categories was increased from seven to 21. He explained that persons with at least 40 per cent benchmark disability can obtain a disability certificate, which enables them to access various benefits, including reservations in education and employment and concessions in transportation, subject to applicable eligibility conditions.

Special guest Vikrama Ram, Under Secretary of the concerned department, said the state government was committed to the social and economic empowerment of persons with disabilities and remained sensitive to their needs.

Senior administrative officials from various departments, doctors, Social Welfare Department personnel, teachers from the School for the Deaf and Mute, and a large number of persons with disabilities and their family members from different blocks of Gumla district attended the programme.

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