The district level 2 days workshop on RPwD act 2016 organised by Raichur RPD task force in collaboration with  District legal services authority, The Association of People with Disability-South India law unit, Vikala chetanara welfare trust and Hyderabad Karnataka disable people committee. 

The Programme was held on 3rd and 4th April 2021 at Raichur Agriculture Science University. The main objective of the workshop was to orient the district leaders and PwDs on the RPwD act 2016 and government orders, leadership qualities, strengthening leadership and the right to information act.

Day 1: 3rd April 2021

Mr. S Babu Khan, Regional Coordinator Disability Law Unit, South and Asst. Director, APD welcomed the participants to the two-day workshop. He shared that the state govt has given resources to all the departments as per the provisions of the RPwD act 2016 however due to the lack of disaggregated data of PwDs utilization is very low. No urban local bodies have done a survey of PwDs because of this the local bodies are unable to utilize the funds for PwDs and around 50 leaders and PwDs participated.

The workshop was inaugurated by Mr. Veeranna Gowda- Deputy Director Women and Child development department, he briefed that, earlier he was served as district disabled welfare officer and shared experiences on how PwDs have faced the challenges to seek support from the govt department. He assured that he will call a quarterly meeting to review the implementation. Later Policy Advocacy team member Mr. Nagappa Anwati presented the RPwD act 2016. Mr. S. Babu also presented the salient features of the act.

During the afternoon session 5% of circular discussions done with presentations and addressed the questions of participants.

Day 2: 4th April 2021

Honorable District Judge Mr. Mallikarjun Gowda - Chairperson District Legal Services Authority and Honorable District Judge Mr. Ishwar -Member secretary District legal services authority participated as chief guests. During his speech honourable District Judge Mr. Mallikarjun Gowda shared his childhood experiences of his friends who had disability and stressed that though physically they might be disabled but they are very talented and he suggested that, as PwD nobody should think that they are inferior to other people. Honorable District Judge Mr. Ishwar briefed about the RPwD act 2016 and suggested that PwDs can approach the legal service authority for any legal support.

Impact:

• The Deputy Director of WCD assured to call a quarterly meeting to review the implementation.
• District legal services authority will focus on PwDs issues and suggested filing cases on rights violations and they will provide advocates
• The RPD task force leaders earlier met the vice chancellor of Agriculture University and requested accessibility for PwDs as a result ramps construction in Agriculture university campus has been initiated