Activity Report from Nepal

Activity Report from Nepal

Independent Living Center for PWDs Kathmandu, Nepal

After the Great April movement the country is now in the restructuring process through Constitution Assembly (CA). The election of CA has been completed and enters into the process of making new constitution for new republic Nepal. In the present CA seems tiring on drafting the several thematic issues. IL Center, DPOs and other several groups and communities are making regular advocacy and lobby to ensure their rights as a fundamental rights in the constitution. Persons with Disabilities and their organizations are also making advocacy to ensure their special rights in the new constitution of Nepal.
Similarly, Nepal government has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol. The ratification demonstrated the government’s commitment to protect and promote the human rights and dignity of Persons with Disabilities. The rights of PWDs mentioned in the convention will be reflected in the national legal frame work as well as the new constitution of Nepal. It is believed that the ratification of this convention further supports the work of many organizations and human rights defenders engaged with the issue of disability and provides an important tool to respect and protect the human rights and inherent dignity of PWDs.
CIL-Kathmandu has been working basically in policy advocacy for increasing the participation of PWDs in the decision making process, peer counseling to the disabled persons, personal assistant services (PAS), independent living program (ILP) in terms of training on daily living skills etc.

Current activity of CIL-Kathmandu:
1. Has been running “Monthly Independent Living Discussion Program” in the collaboration of Action Aid Nepal since 30th March 2007.
Key Activities:
* Sensitization on disability and Independent Living to various stakeholders such as professionals, civil society, DPOs, NGOs, INGOs, Government authorities, Media, Parents, Politicians, etc. One day in a month

2. Has been running program on “Promotion and Development of Independent Living Concept in Nepal” in the collaboration of Mainstream Association Japan since 2006.
Key Activities
* Network Expansion of CIL
* Information Dissemination and Referral Activities
* Personal Assistant Service
* Administrative support

3. Has been running “Promotion and Protection of rights of PWDs through Advocacy and Independent Living activities” in the collaboration of Ministry of Women, Children and social Welfare since 2007.
Key Activities
* Advocacy and lobbying (meetings, delegation, interactions, group campaign etc.) with stakeholders in the current issues raised by CIL
* Peer counseling to build self confident and minimize the inferiority complex
* Practical knowledge to disabled people on daily living skill on the framework of Independent Living Program.
* Accessibility program such as study and interventions
* Implementation of Independent Living Experience Program in Kathmandu
* Trainings to PWDs on Independent Living in regional level

4. Has been running “Attendants’ Production and disability awareness programs for university students” in the collaboration of APNIL since 2009
Key Activities
* Orientation for the students at colleges and university
* Interviewed of the Potential Candidates
* Attendants Training
* Mobilization of the Attendants

5. Has been running “Equalization of PWDs through Accessibility” in the collaboration of Australian Embassy since 2010
Key Activities
* Barrier free check on the public places at Kathmandu
* Construction of slopes and ramps
* Advocacy

Some Important outputs observed as the result of CIL’s work:
There are some very good achievements which have really supported to promote the disability rights in Nepal. A regular, joint and hard effort of disabled people and their self help organizations are the key reasons behind this achievements and CIL-Kathmandu is always in decisive and important role to lead this joint movement since its establishment. In last three years we have observed some good achievements in policy and practices of government for promoting the rights of disabled people; are listed below;
* The contribution of PWDs in the great Peoples’ Movement of 2006 has been highly valued by political parties, civil society and the international communities as well. CIL-Kathmandu has played leading role to make visible PWDs in the peoples’ movement from the side of civil society.
* Nepal government has signed and ratified UNCRPD.
* Because of the regular campaign carried out by CIL-Kathmandu for barrier free environment some of the government buildings have been accommodated with wheelchair ramps. Similarly, some District Administration Offices, District Development Offices in some districts, Banks, some other public buildings, parks and other newly constructed building have also made wheel chair ramps in the main entrance of the building.
* Nepal government has made new policy on the disability identity card. There is provision of 4 grades on disability. 1. Red Disability Identity Card for Profound disability, 2) Blue Disability Identity Card for Severe Disability, 3) Yellow Disability Identity Card for Moderate Disability and 4) White Disability Identity Card for Mild Disability.
* Central Government of Nepal has allocated Disability Allowances Rs 1000 per month for Persons having Profound Disabilities and increased Rs 300 for Severe disabilities.
* Government of Nepal has announced 100% tax free for those specially accommodated scooters which are used as need of disabled people for their private mobility.
* Local Government of Nepal (district development committee) has brought the provision to be allocated 1 to 5% part of total district’s budget for the development of disabled people, of Local Self Governance Act in practice in various districts.
* There is 45% discount in the fare of public transport and 50% discount in air fare in domestic flight for PWDs.
* Central Government of Nepal has allocated Rs 109, 00,000/- to work for the rights promotion and betterment of disabled people in the budget. The amount is largest found ever allocated for disabled people in the history. National Budget of Nepal has addressed the activities of CIL- Kathamdnu and allocated Rs 10,50,000/ 13,125 US$ annually fund which would be used in following areas:
– Advocacy
– Peer counseling
– Independent living programs and
– Barrier free campaigning
* The Interim Constitution of Nepal 2006 has addressed need of inclusion of PWDs in the state mechanisms and policy making level as well.
* Because of the regular interventions of CIL-Kathmandu the Constitution Assembly Directories has ensured the provisions of sign language interpreter for deaf CA member and Personal Assistant for wheelchair user CA member representing to CA. It is also good to recall here that two persons from disabled community Mr. Raghabir Joshi (deaf person) and Ms. Indira Gurung (physically disabled) have been nominated as CA member. Similarly the directory has also ensured the provisions to participate two disabled people in the main committee to be formed for constitution drafting.
* In organizational level CIL-Kathmandu has established 9 IL Centers in different parts of Nepal. They are launching the IL activities.

Activity report from Nepal

Report Activities of Attendent Services
Submitted By: Independent Living Center Kathmandu
Submitted To: APNIL

Background:
In 2005 the political situation Nepal was not favourable to work in right based movement. The whole nation was suffering by the extreme phase of arm conflict and on the other hand there was direct ruling of King. In the leadership of seven party’s alliance the people of Nepal were in the preparation of peoples’ movement to liberate the country from the cruel claws of autocracy. In this situation CIL-Kathmandu also thought to show its solidarity with the physical involvement of persons with disabilities in the movement. In the April of 2006 all Nepalese came on the road for agitation against and CIL-Kathmandu also showed its adventurous contribution in the movement on behalf of civil society by involving PWDs in the great peoples’ movement. After the success of peoples’ movement this organization was legally registered in the district administration office, Kathmandu in August 2006 along with the changing political scenario.

Introduction of the Organization:
Independent Living Center (CIL-Kathmandu) is completely non-profitable and non political self help organization entirely run by persons with disabilities. This is a non governmental organization established to work for the promotion and protection of the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) through the concept of independent living. The term eIndependent Livingf as defined by people with disabilities does not mean doing things for yourself, or living on your own. It means having choice and control over the assistance and/or equipment/assistive devices needed for daily life and having access to amenities that society has to offer such as housing, transport, health services, employment, as well as entertainment, education and training opportunities. Independent Living (IL) is a vision, a philosophy and a movement of persons with disabilities to promote and protect the human rights of PWDs. It interprets disability in social model and rights based approach. CIL-Kathmandu has been working basically in policy advocacy for increasing the participation of PWDs in the decision making
process, peer counseling to the disabled persons, personal assistant services (PAS), independent living program (ILP) in terms of training on daily living skills etc.

Project Attendants’ production and disability awareness programs for university students:
There was very strong and vital support of university students in IL movements of US and Japan. University students are always powerful agents to change the society. And, to include such a force in IL movements can be very rewarding and double advantages for the PWDs and PWDs movements. This concept was realized very early by CIL-Kathmandu but it did remain for a long time as unfulfilled dream. After a long time CIL-Kathmandu is proud to start this program. This dream became reality by very meaningful grant provided by APNIL. With the financial support of APNIL, CIL Kathmandu organized first terminal Attendants’ production and disability awareness programs for university students was successfully completed. The Project objectives are given below:-
1. To produced trained Attended
2. To give the direct benefit from the attendants service programs by helping them to their daily living activities and decision making process.
3. To establish the attendant’s services programs as the part of social security system of nation by which both society as well as IL centre would be benefit.
4. To aware about the disability issues in college level students so as to make the issues as concern as general public.
5. To expand IL philosophy and to intervene in its core activities differencing its vision and philosophy
than others.

Activity 1-
Orientation for the students at Patan Multiple College:
The first term of the program was conducted at Patan Multiple Campus on date 26 February, 2009. There were all about 70 students who actively take part in the programs. The resources persons from CIL-Kathmandu are Mr. Tek Bahadur Gurung, Mr. Bhoj Raj Shrestha, Krishna Cahudhary, Deepak K.C and attendant coordinator Mr. Ramesh Neupane. In the program Mr. Bhoj Raj Shrestha gave his well-come speech and share different aspects of disabilities issues like who is disabled, what is disability, different kind of disability and situation of disability in our own society. Mr. Tek Bahadur Gurung explained the purpose of the programs and explained the activities of CIL-Kathmandu and Mr. Deepak K.C explained the IL philosophy and his experiences of Japan. On the other hand Mr. Ramesh Neupane shared his own experience as attendants very skillfully-like what was his first experience by seeing the person seating in wheelchair, his gradual friendship with disabled people and what motivated him to be attendant. The program was conducted all about 2 hours and finished with tea and snacks break. Some of new things we found after the programs were;
1. So many students said that it was their first experience to have face to face interaction with disabled people.
2. The programs became very good platform to link student union body, University administration and IL that is every helpful to conduct programs in future.
3. Many students showed their keen interest to work with disability.
4. The program made easy environments to start barrier-free campaign in university compound with
help of different student union body.

Activity 2-
Interviewed of the Potential Candidates:
In the second part of the program, there were about 9 selected students out of 70 students after screening. The program was conducted on date 5th March, 2009. The resources people were Mr. Krishna Gautam, Mr. Krishna Chudhary and Ramesh Neupane.

The Following objectives were accepted from the programs:
-To give the detail information about IL philosophy and to increase their
interest about IL Concept.
- To give the orientation about IL activities and to show them the office environments.
- To make familiar about other office staffs and the official system. Mr. Gautam was main resources
person of that program. He explained IL Philosophy, IL activities, attendant’s services and the activities of IL center’s work by giving more vivid and practical examples matching to our society and culture. On the other hand Krishna Chaudhary explained the disabled movement history, the role played by disabled people in majors’ democratic movement of nation and the acceptation from young student to change the society for all. At last all the participants visited office and introduced with other office staffs of CIL-Kathmandu.

Activity 3-
Attendents Training:
27th March, 2009. The aim of the third part of program was to give the live and practical examples and experience about the attendants services. CIL-Kathmandu felt very lucky to say that we got a very good resources person from Japan, Mr. Tanaka, attendant of Partner Association of Japan during his private visit of Nepal. All the 5 attendants got a very good opportunity to learn the various skill like
?how to bedding, toileting clothing, different mobility training with wheelchair, cooking etc. During the programs Mr. Tanaka did not only teach the skill but also shared his experience of his experience in attendants service carrier, his felling and explained about different interesting event of IL movement of Japan like BUS JACK in Japanese Disability movement history. Similarly, Krishna Gautam explained about the importance of attendent services in the daily living of PWDs. The role module of the training was Mr. Dependra Shakya, persons with severe disability by Cerebral Palsy.

Activity 4-
Mobilization of the Attendants:
The final part of the program was all about to employ all the qualified and trained candidates as attendants. Now they are performing their duties as part time basics in different events. Their present
performances are good. The attendant’s services coordinating and quality maintaining committee is continuously watching their performance and trying to give them the right direction and parallel skill-up programs for consumers. Ther are 5 part time attendents are used to give direct services to the persons with severe disabilities. About 7 PWDs are getting attendents for the daily living activities such as recreation, shopping, toileting and office activities. Severe Persons with Disabilities are enjoying their daily life some how. They are raising their voice to have full time attendent services and demanding the government for fulfillment of their voice.

Conclusion:
The programs can be considered as very good and effective to realize the true aspect of IL activities. But on the other hand there are still rooms for improvement while doing the programs in University. The time factors are very important while doing the orientation programs so it is wise to find out the good time so that more students could participate. As there is still not any government system, policy or grand for the attendants services a very big challenges is just in front of CIL-Kathmandu for the sustainability of attendant’s services programs and to find the other alternative ways.

Prepared by:
CIL Kathmandu

Report from Nepal, May 2008

Report from Nepal, May 2008

New Hope is born in Nepal.

The 240-year’s old discredited institution on monarchy will be read only in the pages of history now on after the historic first meeting of the Constitution Assembly CA declared Nepal a Federal Democratic Republic from 28th May, 2008 at 11:20 AM.
Many may not believe their eyes that it demise has come much sooner than they had imagined. This epochal change complete, attention must now be directed to the tasks at hand – to consolidate the gains of the Nepali People’s long struggle for freedom, peace, good governance, development, justice, equity and inclusiveness.
Article 63 (3) (C) of the Interim Constitution has provided for nomination of 26 CA member by the council of ministers, on the basis of consensus, from amongst the prominent persons and there who could not make it to the CA via direct election or proportional representation. The CA will take full shape only after the appointment of 26 members.
The major political parties excluded Persons with Disabilities. Small Political party, CPN (United) has shown big heart and gave big social message having the great sense of inclusion by selecting deaf and transsexual in the CA by PR method. Mr. Raghav Bir Joshi has become focal point and hope of 30 milling PWDs in Nepal. Mr. Raghav is going to be the 1st deaf Member of Parliament in ASIA.
Still we are making strong advocacy to the political parties and government of Nepal to nominate some PWDs on the basis of consensus from amongst the prominent persons and there who could not make it to the CA via direct election or proportional representation.
The result will come within this week.

Similarly, CIL Kathmandu is running its activities smoothly. It has conducted the Independent Living Training for the PWDs at
1. Eastern Part of Nepal – Morang
2. Central Part of Nepal – Makawanpur
3. Western Part of Nepal – Kaski
4. Mid-Western Part of Nepal – Banke
5. Far- Western Part of Nepal – Kailali
With the aim of establishment of 7 IL Centers (in 2008 ) in the different parts of Nepal and 5 IL Center has already established. Barrier free campaigns at International airport and world heritage site of Kathmandu Darbar Square have been completed. Peer counseling, ILP, attendant services, Advocacy program are going on.

Krishna Gautam
CIL-Kathmandu

Report Activities of CIL Kathmandu April, 2008

Report Activities of CIL Kathmandu April, 2008

General Introduction of Organization:
The Independent Living Centre Kathmandu (CIL-Kathmandu) has emerged as a key strategic player within disability field working to advance the rights, dignity and lives of disabled people in Nepal. CIL Kathmandu has formally been established on 2005 and registered in the District Administration Office of Kathmandu District on 2006 under the Institution registration Act-1977 and affiliated with social welfare council on 2006. From it inception, CIL Kathmandu established principally to support the Persons with severe disabilities considering that persons with disabilities should have the opportunity to be actively involved in daily livings, decision-making processes, policies and programs, including those directly concern issues of PWDs. It has been engaged in advocacy and awareness to promote and protect the rights and dignity of PWDs. CIL Kathmandu has been taking responsibilities of coordinating, and building the capacities of PWDs through the financial and technical support of international development partners and the government. CIL Kathmandu’s works is to ensure the principles and strategies underlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other internationally recognized legal instruments that protect and promote the rights of PWDs. This organization is fighting for the right and dignity of people with disabilities through advocacy, awareness/sensitisation, capacity building, attendant services, IL skills, peer counselling, Human Right Education Training, barrier free campaigns/ events from central to grassroots level.

1. Report on ‘Independent Living Training/Seminar’ in Pokhara
Pokhara- 28th April, 2008
Independent Living Center, Kathmandu has conducted a training/seminar about Independent Living Concept for the Persons with Disabilities at Pokhara. The program was seperated into two sessions i.e. inauguration and learning session.
The inauguration session lasted for two hours. Major political parties such Nepali Congress, CPN (UML), CPN (Maoist) were invited as the chief guests and officials from different government agencies, NGOs, DPOs were invited as the guests. There were 38 persons attending in the program along with 21 PWDs. Ms Anjana K.C. played the role of Master of Ceremony (MC), welcome speech was delivered by Ms Sita K.C. and Mr. Bhojraj Shrestha delivered the speech of importance of the program. The program was chaired by Mr. Hem Bahadur Gurung, the president of NDUP-Nepal.
Legislator Mr. Rajkaji Gurung (Karan) of CPN (Maoist) has made a commitment to ensure the fundamental rights of PWDs in new constitution of Nepal and appreciated the role of PWDs in public movement to end the autocratic rule of the King Gyanendra. Mr. Punya Prasad Poudel, acting secretary of CPN (UML), has said that PWDs should not be behaved as second class citizen by the nation. He further said that they should be brought to mainstream of political, economical and social arena. The representative from Nepali congress was absent in the program. Mr. Sagarmani Parajuli, the representative of District Administratation Office of Kaski said from the chair of guest that government has been managing to issue the disability identity card to identify and catagorize PWDs which helps them to receive certain facilities by the government and other concerned agencies. Mr. Uttam Nagila, the chief of Pokhara Sub-metropolitan said that local goverment has allocated 5 percent budget out of total development cost for the capacity building part of PWDs. He further expressed the belief that this budget would be fruitful to make PWDs contributing member of the society. Mrs Maya Kadayat from DDC Kaski, Mrs Usha Baruwal from Nari Sewa Kendra, Mrs Purna Shrestha from Women Development Office, Kaski; Mr. Sisir Khanal from Kaski Blind Association also delivered the valuable words on the occasion. Mr. Hem Bahadur Gurung expressed the vote of thanks and declared the closing of the inauguration session of the program.
The second and important learning session started with introduction of the participants and the fecilitators. There were 25 participants in the program. Out of 25 , there were 12 women with disabilities and 9 male disabled persons. Mr. Bhojraj Shrestha, Mr. Ganesh K.C. and Mr. Hem Bahadur Gurung were fecilitating the sessions. The session contained the topics about history of IL, concept and practises of IL in national and international level, models of rehabilitation in disability field, defination of disability, principle of IL, activities of IL, barriers faced by PWDs, international laws regarding disability issues and human rights for PWDs. Sessions were conducted through lecture, group discussion and question/answer methods.
All participants actively took part in discussion and interaction of overmentioned topics during the sessions. Lastly, they committed to adopt the independent living concept as the guiding principle to work in disability sector. They were assured independent living concept as the right based approch to be practiced to bring a drastic change in the field of disability.

2. Report on ‘Independent Living Training/Seminar’ in Nepalgunj
Kohalpur- 30th April, 2008
CIL Kathmandu has organized workshop/ training on Independent Living Concept for the Persons with Disabilities at Nepalgunj on 30th April, 2008 with the collaboration of Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare. The program was hosted by Handicapped New Life Center, Banke. The main purpose of the program is to promote and strengthen the IL concept for the persons with disabilities in this region. The workshop/ training were inaugurated by the Constitution Assembly member from the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum Mr. Sarbadev Ojha. Representatives from the major political parties officials from different government agencies, NGOs, Social workers etc were invited as the guests. Chief Guest Mr. Sarbadev Ojha shared his opinion that coming Constitution Assembly should address the issues of Persons with Disabilities. He committed that he will take major role to address the issues a a prior in the constitution assembly. He said that members for the constitution assembly is not him/herself enought to do all this work. Disability community should fight until the achievements. He further said that they should be brought to mainstream of political, economical and social arena. He noted that it is the state responsibility to gurantee the fundamental rights, human rights as well as social, economical and physical rights for the PWDs. Other guests put their opinions during the ceremony .
There were 98 persons attending in the inaguration program including the Persons with Disabilities. Mr Parek Bahadur Shahi played the role of Master of Ceremony, welcome speech was delivered by Mr T.N.Sedai and Mr. Krishna Gautam delivered the speech of importance of the program. The program was chaired by Mr. Madan Man Rokaye the president of Handicapped New Life Center Banke.
The second session started with introduction of the participants and the fecilitators. There were 35 participants in the program. Mr. Krishna Gautam and Mr. Parek Bahadur Shahi were fecilitating the sessions. The session contained the topics about history of IL, concept and practises of IL in national and international level, models of rehabilitation in disability field, defination of disability, principle of IL, activities of IL, barriers faced by PWDs, international laws regarding disability issues and human rights for PWDs. Sessions were conducted through lecture, group discussion and question/answer methods. All participants actively took part in discussion and interaction of overmentioned topics during the sessions. They were assured independent living concept as the right based approch to be practiced to bring a drastic change in the field of disability.

3. Barrier free Campaign
(1) Kathmandu, – International Airport.
As the part of barrier free campaign CIL Kathmandu organized barrier-free campaign programs on the International airport and world heritage site of Kathamndu Darbar Square. The campaign programs were organized by CIL Katmandu. There were 16 Persons with Disabilities attending the program. The programs were co-ordinate by Mr. Tek Bahadur Gurung. The main aim of the campaign is to appeal the management committee to make the internationa airport disabled friendly.
Mr. Bhoj Raj Shrestha clarified the difficulties and problems faced by national and international guests due to the inaccessible infrastrecture at International Airport area. He mentioned that the only one International Airport which is also related to the national prestige to the international community should build according to the international values and norms. Persons with Disabilities are facing the difficulties due to lack of crane up to aeroplane, accessible lifts, slopes, accessible toilets, and many other physicla infrastrecture. He demand the management team to re-construct and re-build the International Airport.
Mr Teak Bhadur Gurung requested to provide the disabled services in proper manner, should make the airport disabled friendly and especial pass for disabled people and their helper according to their disability with in airport while using services. Mr. Gurung repeated that the Persons with Disabilities will continue such kinds of campaign untill the achievents.
The general Manager of international Airport accepted all the issues positively and promised to start the urgent step to improve the barrier free environment with in airport. Showing the positive attitude towards the disabled issues he said that if any disabled people informed on time the airport administration would arrange especial support for national and international disabled guests. If disabled friend faced any difficulties at that time, he advised to meet him directly. Finally he said that if any disabled friends are being unable to use the facilities due to inaccessible environment the airport administration would take step to improve it. He committed for the Persons with Disabilities that he will change the infrastrecture as soon as possible and all the PWDs will get feeling of it.

(2) Kathmandu, Kathmandu Darbar Square
The Barrier Free campaign was organized on the World Heritage site of Kathmandu Darbar square. Although the world heritage site is the prime attraction to the national as well as international guests, there is not even a single disabled friendly public toilet with in this area. This world heritage has not any kind of support provisions for the PWDs and even for the elderly people. Considering this as a issue CIL Kathmandu organized the campaign in this area. The issues were raised effectively with present of world heritage conservation and improvement officer. The campaign met the world heritage conservation and improvement officer and demand him to build the accessible toilets, make provisions to give direct services for the PWDs to observe the historical material available in the area.
Officer took this issue as a prior and committed to build the accessible toilets, ramps, slopes and will make specific policy to give direct services for the persons with disabilities. He said that this all will do in upcoming budget. He also suggested to CIL to organizing this kind of programs with co-ordination of local people for its effectiveness.The barrier free campaign is one the big successful programs to make disabled friendly environments.
CIL Katmandu believes that ?Good designs enable and bad design disabled?. This kind of programs has helped a lot to sensitize the issues of disability and to improve the environment. Analyzing and realizing its effectiveness of such kind of campaigning, CIL Katmandu now thinking to organize at least two programs with in one month in future. We hope the encouragement and support form our national and international friends who believe in social justice and equality in future.

4. The negligence of major political parties to includes disability in Constitutional Assembly.
Nepali Congress, CPN (UML) and Maoists the major political parties who believed themselves as the representative of grass root level people, showed the sympathy at first but could not hold their promise at the end. None of them could prove themselves serious to the disability issues. This is the big drama played by major parties about the issues of selecting the disabled representative for making the new constitution for new Nepal. Although drama is short but the lesson to be learned by the disabled leader is long and question to be answered by the major political party who are claming to make new Nepal is big!
We know, right and contribution are two side of a coin. So, let’s start first about our contribution from 18 days civil movement. At time when even so called normal people could not dare to come out in road against King ruled government; disabled people started strike on the road. Physically we are weak, but we showed enough brave against crude security. Our friends were arrested. We did not care hunger nor did we care dry throat! It was regular routine for us to participate on every event. Because we always believe only in open sky of democracy social justices is possible. We played our role as the conscious citizen of the country BUT when time has arrived to claim our own right, the major political parties are trying to exclude disability sector systematically in the process of making the new constitution. We showed the consciousness of first class citizen but in turn they behave as second class citizen. We rode the other obstacles but we are on the way to defeating on most dangerous obstacle i.e ATTITUDE! Which is just guided by traditionally rotted intuitional approached to see the disability issues. In the view of the most of political parties’, disability issues are just the term related to the rehabilitation, services, institution and pensions. For them all disabled people are just patients who need life long care at institutions. Social inclusion and equal participation are only good topics to discuss in seminars and workshop! And our political rights may be good joke for them. The exclusion of disabled person in making constitution is the great evidence of this.
But now CIL Katmandu think it is time to ask major political party-What create a new Nepal? Is it achieved by felling pity towards people who are poor and oppressed or by poor and oppressed people recognizing their own strength to solve their own problems? What is our vision for New Nepal and the society in which we all are dreaming to live? Is it one in which the fittest, the strongest, those with the strongest self-interest, increase and rest merely survive? Where anybody who is ‘different’ is excluded and where there is worship of uniformity? Or is it a society in which diversity is welcomed and individuals are each valued for what they are? Sooner or latter disability community would ask the same question to the entire political leader in some occasion.
Although the major political parties excluded minority community -Nepal communist party (United) has really shown big heart and gave big social message having the great sense of inclusion by selecting deaf and transsexual into the constitution assembly by PR method. At the time of neglecting the disabled people by major political parties the representation of one deaf person named Mr. Raghav Bir Joshi has became focal point and hope of twenty million disabled people. Mr. Raghav is going to be the first deaf Member of Parliament in Asia. But could he deserve to raise the issues of all type of disability?
CIL Katmandu does not believe only that raising the question to every issue would be the part of our responsibility. It said that when we point a finger at someone, there are three fingers pointing at you! So, it is also time to review our strategies and learn from lesions from the incident.
Where is the strength of our more than 300 DPOs who claim themselves agent of change? Where is our so called disabled leader? What are we doing and how are we doing? Isn’t it right time to review our strategy? If we even could not able to participate to write our own constitution is there any weight to bark about to sign the UN treaty? This is only small list of question to ourselves which in turn ask same questions by our next generation to every one of us.
The negligence of major political parties to include disabled people in constitutional assembly is the symbol that how hard our future path for social justices and equality to change the traditionally rotted institutionalize mind of society. It is also the good opportunity to review the strategy of disability movement in Nepal. The umbrella organization like NFDN and its leader are still in great confusion that 7 hours hunger strike ended with 7 glass juices with 7 minutes sweet words of Parchand could make a path for CA?! If it would be true he would already have selected disabled as they had already promised. The path is not as easy as it look. CIL Katmandu believes that there is no choice to create diplomatic pressure as well as movement with the help of all the member organization. For this the leadership should show the courageous to invite all members’ organizations to join hand on hand for struggle not to lose the historic chance to write our right in constitution. CIL Katmandu believes in unity. For us the old slogan, ‘Nothing about us without us’ is just valid today as when it was first coined.

5. Advocacy
CIL Kathmandu is making regular advocacy to the various national and international agencies to protect and to promote the rights of Persons with Disabilities in Nepal. It also making regular action to achieve the goals of organization too.
i) OHCHR: CIL Kathmandu, according to the action plan of organization, made regular contacts with the representatives of OHCHR-Nepal. CIL Kathmandu is requesting OHCHR to address the issues of PWDs in national and international wide. It also requesting to support in the translation of HUMAN RIGHT, Yes ! Manual tool kit in Nepali language. OHCHR is very much positive towards it.

ii) Government of Nepal: CIL Kathmandu is making regular meetings with the staffs of National Planning Commission, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Ministry of Finance and other agencies to make the policy and programs on Independent Living Concept. CIL Kathmandu is demanding them to allocate the national and local budgets for the welfare of PWDs and the budget to promote the IL concept in nationwide.

iii) Political Parties: CIL Kathmandu is making regular advocacy with the political parties to address the issues of PWDs in prior. It is demanding them for the representation of PWDs in Constitution Assembly and assure the fundamental rights as well as human rights of PWDs in CA.

Report from Nepal – CIL Kathmandu

The Constitution Assembly Election has hold on 10th April, 2008 after a long decade of People’s war and 19 days of Peoples Movement in Nepal. The results of the Constitution Assembly election have been pouring in from various parts of the country indicating a clear majority of the Communist Party Nepal (Maoists). On the other hand, most of the top political parties i.e.; Communist Party Nepal (UML) and Nepali Congress (NC) have experienced a humiliating defeat. There might be some reasons behind this,

First, and the foremost, what it depicts to a large extent is that the people have been fed up with the obsolete political discourse of the top parties Communist Party Nepal (UML) and Nepali Congress (NC). They were aspiring of a real change in the country for a long time.

Secondly, the people have expressed moral support to the decade-long Maoist war as the only means to abolish the monarchy by root from the country once and for all.

Thirdly, as the CPN (UML) and the NC argued, the amazing success of the Maoists is due to people’s desire for peace, which they thought could be achieved only by ending the insurgency as the Maoists were threatening to start armed rebellion all over again.

Whatever the reason behind the victory, the people have put all the responsibilities on the Maoists’ shoulder. Fulfillment of all aspirations of the voters seems to be a big challenge for the Maoists, as they are said to be native in statesmanship.

The Maoist leadership should pay heed to people’s aspiration and implement all the programs proposed in their manifesto. The people have given a chance to the CPN Maoist who repeatedly claimed that they would give them a roadmap for development and success. So that they should wisely utilize this opportunity and provide sustainable ground for all Nepalese irrespective of parties, castes and creed, sex and gender, Persons with Disabilities they belong to- to prosper, succeed and smile at both individual and social levels.

Krishna Gautam
CIL Kathmandu

Activity Report from CIL-Kathmandu, Nepal

Report activities on Barrier free Campaign organized by CIL Kathmandu

Organized by: Independent Living Centre Katmandu
Sponsored by: Toyota Grant Foundation
Date: 2nd December 2007
Time: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Place: Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City. (Lalitpur District Development Committee, District Public Health Office Lalitpur, District Administration Office Lalitpur, Ministry of Local Development and National Human Right Commission)

Total Participants: 135 PWDs including volunteers, journalists, human right activists, and civil societies

Objectives:
• To appeal on the rights, dignity and independent living lives of PWDs socially, economically, politically, physically and culturally in the every part of state.
• To conduct the advocacy, lobbing and pressure to make the men made infrastructure disabled friendly.
• To make accessible in each and every public buildings, government buildings, public parks and toilets, roads etc

Program Schedule:
(1) 10 AM to 11 AM. Press Conference
Lalitpur District Development Committee Office Hall / 150 participants
Speakers: Mr. Krishna Gautam,Ms. Indira Shrestha, and other participants
(2) 11 AM to 12 AM. Barrier Free Campaign
Lalitpur District Development Committee Office / 135 participants
Speakers: Mr. Krishna Gautam, Mr.Dhrubahari Neupane, Ms. Susila Poudel, and other participants
(3) 1 PM to 1:30 PM. Barrier Free Campaign
District Public Health Office, Lalitpur / 135 participants
Speakers: Mr. Krishna Gautam, Mr. Bhoj Raj Shrestha, Mr. Tek Bdr Gurung, Ms. Susila Poudel, and other participants.
(4) 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM. Barrier free Campaign
District Administration Committee, Lalitpur / 135 participants
Speakers: Mr. Bhoj Raj Shrestha, Mr. Krishna Gautam, Ms. Susila Poudel and other participants
(5) 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM. Barrier free Campaign
Ministry of Local Development / 135 participants
Speakers: Mr. Bhoj Raj Shrestha, Mr. Krishna Gautam, Mr. Dhrubahari Neupane, and other participants
(6) 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Barrier free Campaign
National Human Right Commission, Lalitpur / 135 participants
Speakers: Mr. Krishna Gautam, Mr. Bhoj Raj Shrestha, Ms. Anjana KC, Mr. Dhrubahari Neupane and other participants

Brief Description:
Independent Living Centre Kathmandu (CIL- Kathmandu) conducted a barrier free campaign program on “Fundamental Rights, Human Rights, and Barrier free Society” for the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Nepal. More than 135 PWDs attend the campaign. “The state is unable to guarantee the fundamental rights and human rights of PWDs in equal manners in compare to the others,” they said. The campaign activists further added that many PWDs are not able to exercise the right to education, right to health, right to employment and right to live independently in chosen community. Bhoj Raj Shrestha, member of CIL Kathmandu said, “The purpose of this programme is to guarantee the full integration of disability into all government’s programmed and develop the recognition of the rights and responsibilities of PWDs”. Krishna Gautam, General Secretary of CIL said, “Independent Living Philosophy empowers PWDs to take control of their own lives, to live with dignity in their chosen community, to make decisions about own lives and speak for themselves”.

The women participants Sushila Poudel and Anjana KC said that PWDs are the poorest and most marginalized members of their community and state has to take action to overcome their poverty and achieve their civil, political, social, and economic rights. They claimed it is the prejudice that denies the opportunities to develop the necessary skills, knowledge, and confidence and to make effective use of the resources that they may already have. “We are often made invisible by society so that state has to support us in designing and delivering our humanitarian responses,” they urged.

The program had begun with the press conference at Lalitpur. The organizer team announced program in front of the journalists, civil societies, and participants.

Press Conference
Independent Living Center Kathmandu had organized the Press Conference on 2nd December 2007 at Lalitpur District Development Committee Hall. The press statement was released by the Program Officer Mrs. Indira Shrestha of Women Development Lalitpur. She requested media and the civil societies to come forward to create mass awareness against the negative attitude towards the persons with disabilities. She said that the theme of the 16th International Disability Day is ‘Decent Work for Persons with Disabilities’. “The persons with disabilities are the citizens of this country and inseparable part of the society. So, it’s our sacred responsibility to ensure their equal rights, equal opportunities and the right to live with dignity.”

Secretary General Krishna Gautam called upon government, national and International organizations to come up with meaningful program for providing proper education, training and working environment to the persons with disabilities to improve their lifestyle. He also argued Nepal government to sign and to ratify the ‘UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ CRPD as soon as possible. He added that CRPD is the dream of PWDs. It should bring into the practices.

There were 150 participants including journalists, civil societies, and Persons with Disabilities.

After the Press Conference, the Campaign had been begin

1. Office of Lalitpur Development Committee
At first, the participants went to Office of Lalitpur Development Committee where Mr. Dhrubahari Neupane, the member of CIL urged Local District Officer that physical infrastructure should be favorable to PWDs. He further urged that inclusive laws should be needed for equal rights and opportunities for disabilities. “PWDs are to be seen as full citizens with all rights and responsibilities. But they do not have access to resources and opportunities so that specific measures are necessary to ensure their full inclusion and participation,” he said. Moreover, the participants agreed that state should focus and incorporate disability issue into their current programmes as a high priority. “The policy and programs of the District Development Committee has not properly addressed the issues of disability so that it is urgent necessity to amend the policies and programs”, said Krishna Gautam. He further raised the issues of proportional representation of PWDs and barrier free environment in the district.

After considering the views of the participants, Local District Officer said that the policy and programs of the district will make inclusive and will promote barrier free environment in the district. Other participants in the campaign appealed to the Officer as:
• To create psychological and physical barrier free environment.
• To create an inclusive society in which PWDs are guaranteed the same rights as non-disabled people with full participations

2. District Public Health Office
Bhoj Raj Shrestha said that the office has to create the enabling environment that provides PWDs to live their lives independently. Krishna Gautam, Secretary General of CIL Kathmandu, suggested the office has to make disabled friendly infrastructure and to construct new provision for health services and employment to the PWDs. He further added “The state should focus PWDs when it releases the budget. The officer answered that the present conditions is the cause of low budget and lack of awareness regarding PWDs. “As long with the awareness, the socio-economic support as well as the barrier free environment will increase,” Officer answered.

3. Office of District Administration Lalitpur
Chief District Officer (CDO), Ram Prasad Shrestha emphasized that the state has to focus PWDs in its planning. State’s policy should guarantee the barrier free environment, focus the necessity of classification of PWDs and allocate the budget to the disabilities organizations on the basis of their works. Similarly, CDO demanded that state should encourage discussion of gender relevant issues and support the PWDs in the state’s policy to develop their potentiality.
The activists appealed to the Officer as:
• To provide equal access to necessary resources for PWDs
• To achieve positive change in PWDs’ lives and help the communities’ development
• To increase their capacity to change attitudes within their communities, raising awareness of the needs and potential strength of PWDs
• To share information with disabilities activists, specially about ways of removing barriers to PWDs’ participation in society

4. Ministry of Local Development
The activists appealed to the ministry of Physical and Planning as:
• To promote barrier free environment regarding physical infrastructure.
• To promote the system to create an environment in which PWDs and administrative could share experiences and exchange idea freely regarding the development planning.
• To construct the rules and regulations that help to increase the barrier free environment among the physical constructions and planning
• To allocate the budget for the PWDs to live independently in the chosen community.
• To implement the Disability Allowances addressed by the Nepal Government in it budget speech 2007.

5. Office of National Human Right Commission
• Mr. Krishna Gautam, Secretary General, of CIL Kathmandu explains the objectives of the Campaign and started to say that Disability is the issue of Human Right. He noted that National Human Right Commission is giving more priority to the ongoing political crises rather than the discrimination of the civil citizens and Persons with Disabilities. He added that most of the Children with Disabilities are still inside the house. They have no opportunities to go school, no assertive devices, no proper care due to this they are dying within short periods. Most of the PWDs depended on their parents and have no job guarantee. Government has no provisions to support their daily living. Bhoj Raj Shrestha said that PWDs are looking the social, economical, physical, political, and cultural rights so that National Human Right Commission should give attention towards the issues of PWDs. “Government should guarantee the fundamental rights and should protect human rights of PWDs. Similarly, government should make proper act to make the infrastructure disability friendly”. Another participant Miss. Anjana K.C. “Our parents has invested a lot of money and their time for our education hoping for our bright future but after education we do not have opportunities to get job or any other services”. In reply, representatives of National Human Right Commission said that the campaign retreat and will take seriously the issues of PWDs. They said that NHRC is making wide discussion to sign and to ratify the UN Convention from Nepal. After ratify, the strong act should be amendment. They made commitment to work together with PWDs to assure the fundamental rights and human rights of PWDs as well.

Activity Report from CIL-Kathmandu, Nepal

Feb 15.
CIL Kathmandu completed workshop/training on “Human right education and UN Convention for the Persons with Disabilities” from 28th Jan to 30th Jan 2008. This program was organized with the collaboration of Human Right Yes team America. The resource persons were Ms. Janet Lord and Ms. Valerie Karr from Washington D.C.

One of the young leader from Japan (Mainstream Association) Mr. DAI OKITA is here at CIL Kathmandu for 2 months. CIL Kathmandu is going to organize Independent Living Training in Nepal. Shafiq and Akmal from Pakistan will attend the training.

Nepal Government is going to held Constitution Assembly Election on April 10. Persons with disabilities are demanding the government and political parties for the immediate action which include representation of PWDs in legislative body to be formed to promulgate the constitution, reservation of seats for constituent assembly election, and inclusion of appropriate paragraphs and wordings in the interim constitution.

CIL Kathmandu Activity Report – Oct 09, 2007

From Nepal

CIL Kathmandu Activity Report
Oct 09, 2007

CIL-Kathmandu organized the Barrier Free Campaigns on 2nd October 2007: More than 150 Persons with Disabilities gathered and Appealed to the government to make the infrastructure barrier free and to implement the programs decided by the government. Campaign visited the ministry of home, ministry of finance, ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Ministry of Physical Planning and Work, Ministry of Information and Communication. Persons with Disabilities demanded the government to implement the national laws and legislations, to provide employment and social security, to make barrier free infrastructure, information, and communication, and to provide the fund to launch the activities of IL.

Ministers from the ministry of home and ministry of finance came down and addressed the campaign group. They welcome and informed that they have made slopes, ramps, and lifts in their building and will circular in every office of their ministries. They also promised to make infrastructure barrier free and to implement the works demanded by the PWDs. Similarly, Secretaries from the ministries of Women, Children, and Social Welfare, ministry of Physical Planning and Work and Ministry of Information and Communication welcome and informed the activities done by their ministries. PWDs raised several question to them to listen the voices of PWDs. Official’s advised group not to give up the campaign to get the rights. They also promised to do something good to the PWDs.

Krishna Gautam
CIL Kathmandu