A delegation led by Dr. Ezamo Murry and Dr. Limatula Longkumer attended the international conference on “inclusion of persons with disabilities for building just-society: Asian cultural and religious resources” in West Bengal, from June 26 to 28 at Serampore College campus.
A press release from Dr. Wati Longchar stated that the conference was organized by EDAN-PTCA (ecumenical disability advocates network of world council of churches and program for theology and cultures in Asia), hosted by the department of research/SATHRI, Senate of Serampore College, West Bengal.
The conference, facilitated by Angeline Okola and Dr. Wati Longchar, was represented by academicians, people with disabilities, caregivers, religious leaders and rights for the disabled activists from six nations. Country representatives shared initiatives undertaken by their country’s governments, NGOs, and particularly by churches and theological institutions for upliftment of PwDs. All of them pointed out that PwDs were still discriminated and excluded from mainstream society and called for a change of attitude and collective action.
Three Naga scholars, Dr. Limatula Longkumer, Dr Ezamo Murry and Ekonthung Ezung, spoke during the conference and challenged the international participants to change the social, religious and cultural perspectives towards PwDs. The other participants from Nagaland and North East who spoke on the panel were Kilangla Longchar, Akangnungba, Mary Chang, Gloria Tsopoe and Bendangyapang.