National Federation of the Disabled-Nepal (NFDN) has demanded that some three million Nepalis living with disabilities be offered an opportunity for dignified participation in the constitution making process.

The Nepal Disabled Federation handing over a memorandum with their demands to deputy prime minister and foreign minister KP Sharma Oli at the Foreign Ministry, Wednesday, June 07 06. nepalnews.com

Handing over a 12-point memorandum to acting Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli at the Foreign Ministry on Wednesday, the Federation demanded that there should be mandatory representation of disabled people in the on-going negotiations with the government of Nepal and CPN (Maoist) and in the interim government that would be constituted thereof.

The Federation has also asked the government to implement the national policy and action plan for the disabled people 2062 B. S., ensure representation of disabled persons in all the government appointments including appointments to the Social Welfare Council, National Women’s Commission, National Commission for Dalit, National Academy for Ethnic Communities, National Human Rights Commission and National Planning Commission.

Similarly, the Federation has also demanded employment opportunities for people with disabilities, collateral free loan for enterprises set up by the disabled persons and free treatment for people with disabilities.

Talking to Nepalnews, general secretary of NFDN, Ram Prasad Dhungana, alleged that the new government formed after ‘jana andolan’ had ignored the plight of millions of disabled people who actively took part in the pro-democracy movement. He warned that the Federation would launch fresh stir if the government and the reinstated parliament did not address their concerns.

The Federation also handed over some 100,000 signatures collected in the capital over the last week in favour of their demands.

Dhungana said deputy premier Oli assured them that the government would consider their demands sympathetically.