Centre for Disability Studies and Health Laws, NLUJA Assam organised National Seminar on “New Paradigms in Disability Studies and Health Laws: Meta-narratives and Realities" at NLUJA Assam. Hon’ble Mr. Justice Peter Mohan Maithree Peiris, former Chief Justice of Sri Lanka; Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Judge, High Court; Shri Kausar Jamil Hilaly, ACS, Commissioner, Disabilities, Govt. of Assam; Dr. Abha Agarwal, Founder, A4 Clinics, Indore and Prof. (Dr.) Sarasu Esther Thomas, NLSIU, Bangalore headed the various Technical Sessions throughout the Seminar.
Centre for Disability Studies & Health Laws
‘Nothing about us without us’, is the basic mantra of deliberation in Disability discipline. The Centre for Disability Studies & Health Laws (CDSHL), National Law University Assam is the one such platform which aims at bringing the people from academia, research, government departments, non-governmental organizations, along with the other stake holders. The Centre for Disability Studies & Health Laws (CDSHL), is only of its kind functioning in the North-East Region. The region is lacking in disability-rights oriented deliberations. The main reason for the same is the tough geographical conditions, scattered human habitation, problem of transportation and communication, weak healthcare delivery system, natural disaster, lack of awareness, poverty, and poor infrastructure and accessibility. This centre will serve as the role model for taking dialogue into reality. While bridging this gap, centre will try to set a standard for right to ‘act’ in terms of the modern day disability jurisprudence. The idea is also highlighted under the provisions of United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and further tried to be archived by resent Disability Laws of the country.
Objectives
- To serve as a Launch-Pad for ‘participatory democracy’ for disability paradigm in unexplored region of north-east and other parts of India.
- To conduct awareness programmes on issues related to Disability Sensitization in association with NGO’s and Social welfare and healthcare departments.
- To develop and facilitate literature on disability jurisprudence through engaging in research on its socio-legal and economic aspects.
- To establish a direct connection with different stakeholders in disability discipline.
- To get into a common pool of worldwide disability deliberations, in other words collaborating with different international and national institutions working in the area.
- To assist governments in formulating the legislation for persons with disabilities.
- To bring theories to the ground realities, in other words applying theory in practical situations.
Tentative Activities
- Organising Lectures from disability rights experts and activists.
- Publishing monthly newsletter.
- Offering different certificate and diploma course under the flagship of the Centre.
- Publishing bi-annual journal on disability studies and related issues.
- Organizing workshops and seminars.
- To create an online-offline redressal portal for persons with disabilities in North East.
- Starting an online blog of Centre.
- Organizing awareness programs (in association with local bodies) at different places mainly concentrating in geographically tough and remote areas.
- Conducting capacity building programs for persons with disabilities and other stakeholders.
- Conducting training programs in association with NGO’s and governmental institutions.
- Health Rights awareness programs in collaboration with health departments of north east states.
- To get in association with government for various projects specially related to law and policy making.
- To create a common body for disability rights groups and get engage in deliberations on law & policy making issues etc.
Events
The center for Disability Studies and Health Laws had conducted a lecture on social and behavioural aspects of disability rights activism by Mr. Arman Ali on 16th of October, 2017. Arman Ali is a famous Disability Rights Activist and the Executive Director of Shishu Sarothi, a pioneering not-for- profit organization on disability rights. In the said program, the faculties, students and volunteers of the center had participated in lecture and discussion on various aspects disability rights advocacy. Mr. Arman Ali had shared various research that our center could take up to contribute to disability studies at our University. Overall it was a very enriching experience for both the faculty and the students of NLUJA, Assam, as it was first such lecture by a dignitary conducted by the center since its inception.
On May 15, 2017 the Centre for Disability Studies & Health Laws was formally inaugurated. The chief guest of the function was Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ajit Singh, Chief Justice, Gauhati High Court and Chancellor, National Law University, Assam and the Guest of Honour was Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Judge, Gauhati High Court. The Programme was also graced by many dignitaries including Mr. Vinod Seshan (IAS), Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup (Rural), Prof. Gautam Biswas, Director, IIT Guwahati, Dr. Ramni Barman, Managing Director, IIRDDA; Prof. T. Ramakrishnan, NLSIU Banglore; Prof. V.K. Ahuja, Delhi University; Prof. Shamnad Basheer, Managing Trustee, IDIA; Prof. Yogesh Pai, NLU Delhi; Prof. J.S. Patil, Vice Chancellor, NLU Assam; Prof. Yugal Kishore, Registrar, NLU Assam. Many Officers from the Social Welfare Department, Govt. of Assam & Mr. Agarwal and his team from Jaipur Prosthetic Limb organization were also present at the function. The programme also witnessed the signing of MOU with IDIA. There was a painting exhibition of students of Indian Institute of Research and Development for Differently Abled (IIRDDA). The programme was concluded with the dignitaries’ interaction with various differently- abled people from district Kamrup (Rural), who were distributed Prosthetic limbs on the same day under the observation of Deputy Commissioner, Kamrup.
As per the notification of the UGC vide Letter no. 763, dated 22.12.16, the Centre for Disability Studies & Health Laws in association with the Literary and Debating Committee of NLU Assam organized a Speech Competition cum Panel Discussion commemorating the National Science Day on Feb 27 on the theme of the year “Science and Technology for Specially- abled people”. The topic for the competition was “Science and Technology for specially abled people”.