Bengaluru: A one-day state-level training workshop for grievance redressal officers dealing with issues of persons with disabilities was held at Room No. 318, Vidhana Soudha, Bengaluru, to strengthen the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and ensure effective and time-bound redressal of grievances.
The workshop was jointly organised by the Department of Women and Child Development and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens and the State Commissionerate for Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The programme was inaugurated by Smt. Uma Mahadevan, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner, Government of Karnataka.
Dr. Shamla Iqbal, IAS, Secretary to Government, Department of Women and Child Development and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens, was present as the chief dignitary.
The session was chaired by Dr. Mahesh Babu N., IAS, Director, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens, and Dr. Venkataramanaswamy S.V., State Commissioner for Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Addressing the workshop, the resource persons highlighted the need for a rights-based approach in addressing the concerns of persons with disabilities and stressed the importance of effective implementation of the provisions of the Act.
The resource persons included Dr. M. Pushpavathi, Director, All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH), Mysuru; Shri K.V. Rajanna, former State Commissioner for Rights of Persons with Disabilities, former member of Mental Health Authority and Founder of Manasa Sadguru and Margadarshi Organisation, Chamarajanagar; and Shri V.S. Basavaraju, former State Commissioner for Rights of Persons with Disabilities and former Director, Association of People with Disability (APD), Bengaluru.
The workshop was also attended by Shri Hampanna, Director, Samarthya Trust Disability Rehabilitation Centre, Koppal; Shri Shivaram Deshpande, Programme Lead, Samarthanam Trust, Bengaluru; Shri Anoop Sinha, Project Director, Ishanya India Foundation, Bengaluru; and Smt. Yamuna D., Assistant Commissioner, Office of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, Bengaluru.
Over 200 grievance redressal officers representing all districts of Karnataka took part in the workshop. The officers discussed district-level challenges, departmental issues and practical difficulties faced while addressing grievances of persons with disabilities.
The interactive sessions provided a platform for officials to share field-level experiences and deliberate on effective mechanisms for resolving pending issues. Resource persons used PowerPoint presentations and case-based discussions to sensitise participants on various provisions of the Act.
The workshop covered key areas including protection of rights of persons with disabilities, accessibility measures, implementation of welfare schemes, complaint handling procedures and strengthening of grievance redressal mechanisms.
The programme concluded on a positive note, emerging as a significant platform for knowledge-sharing, coordination among departments and collective deliberation towards ensuring the effective implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
