As the election of the House of Representatives and State Assemblies are around the corner, various political parties have raised the issues of disability as one of their election agenda.
Political parties from major to smaller ones have been specific regarding the issues of disabled in the documents unveiled in view of the elections of the House of Representatives and State Assemblies scheduled for coming November 26 and December 7.
The election manifesto of the left alliance of CPN-UML and CPN (Maoist Center) has pledged positive changes regarding the perception toward the disabled and to come up with special programs to explore their hidden talents through the means of education, skill enhancement, and employment opportunities.
"Persons with disabilities shall be brought to the purview of social security and shall be provided free healthcare services from local health hospitals/facilities," the manifesto reads.
The election manifesto of the Nepali Congress has announced special honor and incentive to industrialists providing employment to the disabled.
"Social security of the disabled shall be guaranteed as per the international practices regarding their rights and appropriate skill enhancement training shall be provided to them on the basis of nature of disabilities with the enlargement of employment opportunities. The party has promised a special package of financial support for the development of entrepreneurship among the disabled people.
The NC has vowed to issue directives for adopting the disabled-friendly technology in the construction of all public structures and ensuring their inclusive and proportional representation and access to all public services, places and other facilities with special provisions.
Likewise, Naya Shakti Nepal, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, National Prajatantra Party- Prajatantrik and CPN (ML) have also included the issues of disabled in their election manifestos.
However, National Federation of the Disabled-Nepal, President Sudarshan Subedi was not sure that political parties and leaders would live up to their promises made for 'better life' of the disabled if they got elected in the elections. He believed that they were just raising the issues of disabled just with the hope of getting their votes.
It may be noted that there was the participation of one disabled (member) in the first historic Constituent Assembly (CA) while the participation of disabled was nil in the second CA.
