Our correspondents Joshua Yenle, Izang Bala Bulus and Kenneth Alabaraonye had a chat with Karl Gurunyen, the Secretary Plateau State Disability Right Commission in line with TQM interaction with the major stakeholders in Plateau State to get their support towards the improvement of the welfare of persons with disabilities in Plateau State.
TQM: What have you established to be the Challenges of persons with disabilities on the Plateau?
Like you are aware, apart from persons with disabilities, we know there are challenges everywhere, especially in this era of Covid-19. But narrowing down to persons with disabilities, like you rightly said, the Challenges are enormous. One of the Challenges is as result of the Covid-19. We are faced with the issues of insufficient palliative to our people. Though the government have done its bit, but it is not as we expected. We hope the government would do more in that respect because we have so many people that are suffering as a result of this pandemic, especially persons with disabilities.
But I am aware that there are so many committees in place that are trying to see how they will cushion the effects of the pandemic. I am also aware that there is a committee headed by the Governor to curtail the spread of Covid-19. And there is another one saddled with the responsibility of giving out palliative headed by the deputy Governor. I am also aware of another committee of Non-governmental organization that is also interested in giving out palliative. And persons with disabilities have been adequately captured, that at the end of the day, when they do the distribution it would get to persons with disabilities.
TQM: With this Covid-19, Students are being educated via online and other media platform. How are you handling Students with disabilities that are under your Commission?
You know our students are special candidates. Like you said there are so many online programs ongoing, but for now, students with disabilities are not included. I am not aware of any provision for online programs for them because of their special needs to learn. But we are thinking and discussing on how we can fashion a way so that they can key in. You know students with disabilities need a special package, special gadget and special care so, it is not the same with students without disabilities that can watch TV or go online. There are supposed to be special arrangement for them, and this special arrangement needs money. And you equally know that every other activity of this commission is funded by government. So we are going cup in hand to seek for assistance, to see what will happen, especially, if the students will not be going back to school in this September, that is where we must collectively, all stakeholders and the commission, must come together to see a way out. If not, we will be left out.
TQM: But don’t you think the delay is getting to much, since Covid-19 Lockdown started since March this year?
I do not want you to use the word delay, because, Covid-19 is not a deliberate thing, it is not a policy of the government it is not anybody’s intention that the thing should come. But, we were thinking by now, students would have been back in schools. If you would recall, two States have taken the bold steps, and now are opening back their schools, may be our state may key in now, so I don’t think it’s a delay.
TQM: Away from issues of education, let’s go to that of employment. Do you have cases of unemployment amongst persons with disabilities on the Plateau?
Of course, we do.
TQM: So what is your Commission doing about that?
The commission like you know is an Agency of the government, and anything that we would do, have to be with government approval.
And the government have graciously given us the opportunity to employ persons with disabilities, and we as commission have interviewed a lot of persons with disabilities for the employment, but because, of Covid-19 and other things, it has been delayed. If government give us the go ahead now, employment list would be released.
On our own, we are looking at other avenues apart from government, where we can assist persons with disabilities. Where we see and identify potentials in them, we normally support that. We have a department saddled with that responsibility and the department is up and doing. I want to assure you that very soon, you will be proud of the commission in that respect.
TQM: By virtue of figure, what is the estimated number of persons with disabilities on the Plateau?
Base on the last attempt, the commission made in 2018 to have a survey- I really do not have the figure off hand now, and I would not want to give out figure out of context of the survey document.
Even at that, we would not have the certain figure, what we have is not a census as only National Population Commission have the authority to conduct a head count. Thank you.
TQM. Thank you for your time, sir.
You are welcome
