‘Differently-abled’ need a voice in SCPCR: experts

“Recently, a set of guidelines have been issued by child rights activists including Radhika Alkazi, who is a member of the NCPCR and an expert in disabled children rights. If NCPCR could have a special member, why not SCPCR?”, asks President of December 3 Movement TMN Deepak Nathan. “There has to be a specialist who knowns about the situation of children with disabilities”, he said.  

“If an expert member is present, issues faced by children with autism and psychosocial disability could be addressed. Raising awareness among parents who have children with disabilities, getting fair treatment in education, the issue of occupational therapist overcharging are some problems which have to be discussed. Adoption and child abuse are few things that needs to be talked about, even under POSCO, there are regulations that a sign language interpreter must be present when attending case of a child abuse, but such things are not followed,” Nathan said. 

Child Activist Deepak Raj says that apart from a social worker and a legal expert, we must have a specialist to be part of it. “The SCPCR must follow the same framework and guidelines of NCPCR. Even now, how many schools are disabled-friendly? There are rules that all government schools at least must have infrastructure to accommodate differently-abled children. It is clear that discrimination starts at the level of school education,” he said.