The Federation of Persons with Disabilities (FPD) has slammed a Congress Party political hopeful after he reportedly said that blind and deaf people should not be chosen as headmen.
Seiñ Osborn Kharjana, who will be running for the Sohiong seat at next year’s state election, apparently said this in a recent speech.
The FPD is a joint organisation for the disabled comprising the Meghalaya Deaf Association, Khasi Disabilities Association, Garo Hills Association of the Deaf, West Khasi Disabled People’s Organisation, Meghalaya Liberation Association of Visually Impaired and All Meghalaya Association of Persons with Disabilities.
The federation has filed a complaint with the Meghalaya Human Rights Commission, calling for action against Kharjana.
In its complaint, the federation said that Kharjana stated that people who are blind or deaf should not be elected as headman or chief of a village, which implies that people with disabilities are not eligible or capable to be part of such institutions, which is a gross misstatement.
“We are looking forward to you taking stern action against him (Kharjana) as he has violated the provision of Chapter 2 and 16 provided in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016. In order to prevent individuals or groups from marginalising our community, we kindly urge the MHRC to take cognisance of this matter at the earliest and that the right kind of judgement would be rendered at the earliest,” the federation said.
