Plan of action on disability launched

The National Federation of Disabled- Nepal (NFDN) and the Ministry for Women Children and Social Welfare (MoWCSW) have jointly launched 10-year National Policy and Plan of Action on Disability- 2006.

The national action plan has been prepared to ensure the fundamental rights, services and equal opportunities to the people living with disabilities and their social inclusion, reports said.

The plan has selected seventeen priority areas to achieve its goals: National coordination, Law formulation, Information and Research, Awareness, Training and Employment, Accessibility, Communication, Transportation, Education Sports Culture and Entertainment, Disability, Health facilities, Rehabilitation Empowerment and Poverty alleviation, Independent organisations, Women and Disability and International and Regional support.

The MoWCSW, NFDN, civil society, organisations working for the people with disabilities and other development stakeholders prepared the national action plan on the basis of international conventions that Nepal is signatory to and National Policy on Disability, reports The Himalayan Times daily.

The document would serve as a directive to formulate the national programmes and also be applicable to the civil society, non-governmental organisations and donor agencies. nepalnews.com pb Sep 18 06