A two-day state level workshop on SDGs, UNCRPD and RPWD Act organised for Persons with Disabilities in Odisha

A two-day workshop was organised by Sightsavers and European Union on Odisha Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rule-2018 and its linkages with SDG & UNCRPD.

It was held at CYSD in Bhubaneswar. The main objective of the workshop was to build capacities of the leaders and practitioners amongst the Persons with Disabilities around SDGs, UNCRPD and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act 2016.

Shri Prafulla Samal, the Honourable Minister – Department of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SS & EPD) inaugurated the event. He assured to take forward the suggestions/ recommendations of the workshop by the concerned department of Government of Odisha. The Honourable Minister also agreed that the Department of SS & EPD would have quarterly exchanges with the State Disability Network to discuss on specific issues, challenges relating to Persons with Disabilities and find solutions to it.

Participants were divided into different groups to discuss on different Goals under SDGs, especially the Goal No. 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10 and 17*. They came up with certain activities for the development of disability friendly Gram Panchayats in all districts of the state.

Dissemination of Odisha Rights for Persons with Disabilities (RPD) Rules – 2018

Odisha became one of the few states in the country to finalize the state RPD Rules for implementation of the RPD Act 2016. After the Act was notified on Dec 28, 2016 with the nod from the President, Government of Odisha started the process of developing the State Rule. Following a series of consultations from various PWD networks in the state, the State Government came up with the final version of the State Rules on June 26, 2018, which is referred to as “Odisha Rights of Persons with Disability Rules 2018”.

Shri Prafulla Samal dedicated the State Rules to the citizens of the state on this occasion. Addressing the gathering, he stated that the Odisha Government is fully committed to the welfare and development of Persons with Disabilities; the State Rule provides opportunity for the PWDs to exercise their rights to their full potential; it has given reasonable space and representation for PWDs at different levels of monitoring, planning and implementation of the Act; the State Rule will bring massive change in the lives more than 12 lakh PWDs in the state.

Implementation and Monitoring of RPD Rule 2018 and SDGs

Dr. Minati Behera, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities attended the workshop as the Guest of Honour and encouraged the PWD leaders to disseminate the provisions in the State Rules among wider disability networks. She encouraged the PWD leaders and the networks to play a prominent role in effective implementation of the Odisha Rights of Persons with Disability Rules 2018 through monitoring it at the Gram Panchayat, Block and District levels.

MOU between Sightsavers and the Department of SSEPD

Akbar Mehfuz Alam, State Programme Manager, Sightsavers, the Dept. of SSEPD informed the group regarding the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sightsavers for promoting socio-economic development for Persons with Disabilities and to pilot inclusive eye health services for vulnerable population in the state. The MoU has been approved by the Government.

*Appendix 1: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly on 25 September 2015

Sustainable Development Goals

Goal 1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

Goal 2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

Goal 3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

Goal 4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

Goal 5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

Goal 6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Goal 7 Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all

Goal 8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

Goal 9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

Goal 10. Reduce inequality within and among countries

Goal 11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

Goal 12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

Goal 13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts*

Goal 14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Goal 15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss