Dignitaries and others during State level leadership workshop for PwDs in Dimapur on April 28.
Diampur, April 29 (MExN): The State level leadership workshop for PwDs was held on April 28 at Hotel Saramati in Dimapur under the theme “Empowered voices, Ability in action, Shaping tomorrow's leaders.” Altogether 52 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) from 17 district participated in the workshop.
The first session focused on the topic “Capacity building and awareness” by Yangerjungla, Coordinator cum Trainer, LIC HFL Sarthak, Prodigals' Home and K Sani, Project Director, Prodigals' Home, wherein they discoursed on roles, governance and functioning of NGOs.
Kihoto K, State Coordinator, UDID project spoke about the various schemes of the Social Welfare Department, that are available for the PwDs.
In the second session, welcome address was delivered by Theodore Yanthan, Joint secretary, Social welfare Department and Secretary SCPD.
Limawabang Jamir, IAS Secretary, Social Welfare Department and State commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, gave the keynote address. In his address the commissioner highlighted that empowerment begin when voices are not just acknowledged but implemented. “Our approach to the principles of disability should be based on Resilience to adaptivity,” he said.
He said that the government is also committed more than ever to empower the PwDs in any field possible. One such initiative is being taken up under the CM’s Corpus Fund where propitious PwDs are recognized and given financial assistance. He also promised that the department of social welfare is also exploring means to get more funds.
The second session ended with Kiyevi I Swu, Deputy Director, Directorate of food and civil supplies and Nungshilemba, Deputy General Manager NST, sensitizing the delegates about various service Schemes available for PwDs in their respective depts.
The last session of the day was a closed-door discussion among participants with disabilities, led by former Disability Commissioner Diethono Nakhro. She brought forward a range of pressing concerns facing the disability community, and she underlined the critical importance of disability leadership- not merely as representation, but as a means of shaping policies, narratives, and systems from within. She called for sustained, collective action and stronger solidarity within the community and also highlighted the urgency of building networks of support and nurturing emerging leaders with disabilities who can advocate effectively at all levels.
She emphasised that lasting inclusion will only come when persons with disabilities are at the forefront of decision-making and action.
