People’s Action Group for Inclusion and rights (PAGIR) celebrates its 8th Founders Day at Lotsawa Auditorium hall on 12 March. SSP LEH, Dr. Sunil Gupta was the chief guest of the occasion. Rigzin Spalgon, District Social Welfare Officer Leh, CMO Leh Dr. P. Wangchuk, Sonam Dorje, Head Quarter Assistant Education Department and President PAGIR, Mohd Iqbal was also present at the occasion.

President PAGIR Mohd Iqbal briefed about PAGIR and said that attitude of the people towards specially abled is changing but still a lot needs to be done to improve the conditions of specially abled people. This can be made possible only through education and awareness. He also stressed that parents of specially abled children must understand and support them by providing equal education and opportunities to them.

Speaking on the occasion, SSP Leh Dr. Sunil Gupta requested everyone not to use the word disabled but instead address them as specially abled. He also suggested organising programmes for students in different schools in order to sensitise them and educate them to treat differently abled children same as others. He further said that PAGIR must work in coordination with other organisations so that they learn more about various schemes for specially abled. He assured full support to organise sports activities like chess for specially abled so that they can excel at State and National level.

Sonam Dorje highlighted about Inclusive Education and said that there is a school and hostel in Chuchot Yokma exclusively for the differently able. “There are 27 students residing in the hostel. 5 students from that school have cleared matric exams with good marks and are now studying in 12th standard. There is a warden and helper in the hostel and the children are provided with all kinds of facilities. We also provide special classes to these children so they become able to compete with other students as well. Every year District level Assessment Camp is organised and senior doctors do the screening of these childrens”. He also highlighted about various workshops and rally organised by the education department.

Rigzin Spalgon while speaking on the topic Social Inclusion said that many times people do not get equal rights due to lack of equal opportunities because of which that particular group remains isolated and deprived of their basic rights because of some reason or the other. To assure social inclusion physical accessibility and social attitude plays a very crucial role. “All the buildings like hospitals, hotels, schools, offices should be disabled friendly. People need to change their attitude towards specially abled and this should begin from family, teachers and society”. He also talked about the importance of providing equal education and opportunities to the specially abled.
CMO Dr. P. Wangchuk appreciated the recycling work being done by specially abled people with the help of PAGIR. He said that under Rashtriya Bal Swatha Karyakaram (RBSK), children of 0 to 18-year-old are screened to check defect, disability and developmental delays and if any child is found with such defects than he is treated at District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC).

Jungwa Sunskyop Coordinator, Tsering Gurmet highlighted about the various works that PAGIR is doing. He said that there is still discrimination in the society towards the specially abled and appealed the people to treat the specially able equally and thanked everyone for the support.

Performances by Thukjey Dolma, Angchuk Namgial and Padma Dolker charmed the audience.

The programme was hosted by Tsewang Namgial and vote of thanks was presented by Tsering Angchok.