Mon District Disabled People’s Forum (MDDPF) organised a street play on ethical and informed voting under the leadership of C. Chemkha and deputy commissioner DC Mon, Thavaseelan K.
According to DIPR report, the play highlighted the issue of how inadvertently “differently-abled” people were excluded from exercising their “first right” in a democracy, namely, the right to vote.
DC Mon who was the chief guest fervently asserted that it was time that the practice of calling them disabled was abandoned and thoroughly discouraged. Instead, the word ‘differently abled’ is to be used as disability doesn’t lie with them but it was in the minds of those who sustained such perceptions about them, DC said. He further added that the day “we” transform social infrastructure, social spaces and thoughts “we” would witness their true abilities and it would put to shame many of those who were in a habit of using the word. DC Mon has been persistent from day one to extend every possible support to differently abled citizens of Mon district.
Dr. Laltanlien Khobung, programme manager, World Vision said that this was his first experience where the district administration had taken sturdy and sustained steps for the inclusion of the differently abled in the election process. Wangshok Konyak, president, Mon District Handicapped Society, thanked the DC for the efforts made to ensure that this special fraternity was not left out. M. Nangpa gave a compelling speech that elaborated on the state, status and the need for inclusion of differently abled citizens in the electoral process.
The percentage of differently abled people in the country was 7% which makes for a sizeable portion and thus recognizing them also makes political sense apart from human and moral dimensions.