Odisha Congress makes its disability cells operational across the State

The Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee has made its disability cells operational to address the issues of disabled communities and encourage their participation in elections.

In what could be a positive and constructive move amidst political controversies and mudslinging ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in the State, the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) had made its State and district disability cells operational, which is likely to result in deliberations on the mainstreaming of disability issues.

The OPCC disability cell is headed by Jitender Biswal, a noted disability right activist, and quadriplegic himself.

“We have set up district disability cells and appointed their chairpersons in 10 districts — Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Boudh, Nayagarh, Mayurbhanj, Balasore, and Khordha. This is not only to give a political identify to persons with disabilities but also encourage and prepare them to take part in elections from panchayats to Parliament,” Mr. Biswal said.

“The OPCC has provided space for disability cells in its State headquarters office and district offices. The [Congress] party has started providing people to assist us so that we can reach out to people with disabilities (PwD),” he said, when asked if the step was meant to grab headlines.

“Though the disabled population was not properly reflected in last 2011 Census, India’s disabled population might vary between 10% to 12%. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), the U.K. and the U.S. have disabled populations ranging between 12% to 14%,” Mr. Biswal said.

The OPCC disability cell head said the Congress’ unique initiative would inspire other political parties to have similar cells and address the problems of a sizeable population of the State.

According to him, the district disability cells will try to be the voice of the disabled communities of their concerned districts. “They will not only try to find out, raise and solve the issues or concerns of people with disabilities from their respective districts but also try to identify PwDs with leadership qualities, who can be groomed to lead their community in future and take part in electoral politics,” Mr. Biswal said.