LAHORE: Chairperson National CIP Syeda Imtiaz Fatima has said that according to the WHO report 2022, people with disabilities are 15 percent of the world’s total population, that is, one out of every six people is disabled, according to which people with disabilities in Pakistan the population is around 31 million, such a large population is being deprived of their electoral, political, social and economic rights in Pakistan. should be included in the lists so that appropriate steps can be taken to provide them the required facilities at the respective polling stations
He expressed these views at a press conference at Lahore Press Club event organized by Coalition for Inclusive Pakistan and Voice Society regarding “Election political, social and economic problems faced by people with mutual disabilities in the society and their solution”.
Addressing the press conference, District Coordinator Shah Hussain Network and Director Sangat Development Foundation Sajid Ali, District Farm CIP member organizations including Farooq Raza Vice Society, Nooril President Team Dream, Wajid Ali President ROSP, Zubeida, Anza, Arfa Kashif, Farhat Aslam DWF, Ayesha Malik Jannat Welfare, and many other members of disability organizations participated.
Syeda Imtiaz Fatima said that according to the World Health Organization’s 2022 report, people with disabilities are 15 percent of the world’s total population, that is, one out of every six people is disabled, according to which the population of people with disabilities in Pakistan is about 31 million. , such a large population is being deprived of their electoral, political, social and economic rights in Pakistan. In this press conference held on the platform of CIP, Vice Society also presented its Charter of Demand, in which it was said that the Coalition for Inclusive Pakistan believes that all the problems of mutual labor can be found at the social and family level. Outdated beliefs and ideologies include the belief that the birth of such individuals is a punishment or that their disability is associated with shame.
Apart from this, the disparaging attitude found at the level of the society and the criticism of the body structure push them towards further marginalization in the society. The CIP calls for decriminalization of derogatory treatment and criticism of physical structure of persons with disabilities in order to give them their rightful place in society and lead a dignified life. Legislation should be made. He said that steps should be taken at the government level to increase the self-declaration of laborers and their registration as citizens so that the laborers and their families are attracted towards self-declaration and registration as citizens. Political parties and their representatives should ensure that persons with disabilities make it a part of their party constitution and election manifesto and after coming into government, introduce welfare schemes for them as per the above demands. He said that the information of registered voters with disabilities along with the type of disability and the wheelchair logo should be included in the electoral rolls so that appropriate steps can be taken to provide them with the required facilities at the respective polling stations.
He demanded the government to make special treatment free of cost to meet the special health needs of people with disabilities and provide assistive devices free of charge or at reduced rates to those who cannot afford it. Persons with disabilities who are totally dependent on the help of another person in their day-to-day affairs and require a full-time helper for care should have a scheme at the government level that provides assistance to persons with disabilities. or to give a stipend or grant equal to the minimum daily wage to the person assigned to take care of them, obligate public and private schools, colleges and universities to admit persons with disabilities on a specified quota.