Kohima, March 14 (HBTV): State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Diethono Nakhro, along with her legal team and program officer, carried out inspection at Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) on March 14.   

During the inspection, Nakhro observed that accessibility for persons with disabilities at the NLA complex have improved but sitting area for elected representatives was completely inaccessible and emphasized on the necessity to address the issue.

She also suggested the inclusion of parking spaces designated for persons with disabilities in the NLA complex.

Nakro mentioned that their office served as a monitoring body for ensuring the implementation of rights for persons with disabilities and their responsibility to advocate for and urge both the government and private sectors to implement various provisions, particularly focusing on accessibility in physical environments, communication, information, and transportation systems, which are crucial aspects.

Ensuring that the rights of persons with disabilities are upheld and that all provisions are properly implemented was a top priority, she added to strive to ensure access across all facilities and aspects of life. Collaboration with various government departments, agencies, and the private sector is ongoing.

While acknowledging the cooperative stance of the state government, Nakro highlighted the substantial amount of work still required due to past neglect in the disability sector, emphasizing the extensive journey ahead in improving various aspects of life for persons with disabilities.

The commissioner also said that various departments have taken steps such as constructing ramps and installing lifts, which they are pleased to see, however, she noted a lack of awareness about the importance of accessibility among both the general public and government officials.

Despite efforts to provide basic accessibility features like ramps, many public places still lack comprehensive accessibility, including issues like narrow doorways and inaccessible toilets, she added.

 Nakhro also pointed out the absence of signage in public places, leading to confusion for people with disabilities. THough has been improvement in awareness among government officials, she said that there is still a long way to go before accessibility becomes ingrained in the culture.

Despite some progress in recent years and an improvement in awareness, the state's accessibility situation remains notably poor and that the government has shown proactive involvement and cooperation in addressing these issues, but remains to be accomplished due to past neglect, she said.