Campaign on rights of mentally-ill begins

BHUBANESWAR: Badhte Kadam - a nationwide awareness campaign to uphold rights of people suffering from mental  illness, cerebral palsy and autism - was flagged off here on Thursday by Tourism and Culture Minister Prafulla Samal.  A special event was organised at the LV Prasad Eye Institute to mark the beginning of the campaign. The campaign is an endeavour of the National Trust, an autonomous body under the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. It was launched in the State last year in an effort to make people aware of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which India is a signatory, provide understanding of disabilities and celebrate diversity. As a part of the campaign, teams will hit the roads, stop at different locations to conduct awareness drives with the help of local NGOs. Last year, the Badhte Kadam was organised in eight coastal districts of the State, with plans underway to extend the project to at least 10 more districts this year. The  Badhte Kadam-2011 will conclude on December 2, the World Disability Day-eve. While the country continues its march to attain economic prosperity with vigour, issues concerning the betterment of human life and society have largely escaped the notice. One such concern  is helping out people with disabilities, said Samal, adding that differently-abled persons should not be discriminated.  On the occasion, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Women and Child Welfare Department Arti Ahuja said the State Government had also started Project Samarth, a special drive to identify the differently-abled persons and provide them with necessary assistance. According to Government estimates, there are around 10 lakh physically challenged people in the State. The Government has set a target of providing assistance to four lakhs this year. Disability Commissioner Kasturi Mohapatra and Prakash Rath, the Chief Executive Officer of Open Learning Systems (OLS), a local voluntary organisation, will coordinate the campaign in the districts.  Prakash Rath spoke on the occasion.Photo and poster exhibitions, talent hunt, essay writing and art competitions and signature campaigns will be organised.