South Asia Sub-Regional Report

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Geography

The Republic of Maldives is an archipelago consisting of 1,190 islands grouped into 26 natural atolls that together form a chain 820 km in length and 130 km at its widest point, set in an area of more than 90,000 sq km of the Indian Ocean. Out of these approximately 200 of the islands are inhabited and only 33 inhabited islands have a land area of more than 1 sq km. Furthermore no fewer than 67 islands (one third of the total) have 500 inhabitants, while 144 islands (70 percent of the total) have less than 1,000 inhabitants.

Climate

The country experiences tropical weather throughout the year with the temperature ranging from a maximum of 32 degrees Celsius to a minimum of 24 degrees Celsius approximately. The climate is largely influenced by seasonal monsoons.

Culture

The Maldivian unique language is Dhivehi and uses its own script Thaana as the local language. Islam is the only religion in the country. English is widely spoken among many Maldivians.

Population

According to the 2000 census the population of Maldives is 269,010, this represents male 137,743 and female 131,267.

Disability prevalence in Maldives

Any accurate statistics or data are not available up to date at any level regarding the disability status of the Maldives. It has been found important to study and survey to find the situation of disability in the country, to cater the needs of the disabled community. Awareness is an important issue that needs to be considered, where as many people are not aware of the availability of limited resources and services in the country.

THE MALDIVES ASSOCIATION OF THE HANDICAPPED (MATH)

The Maldives Association of the Handicapped (MATH) is a non-governmental organization established on 04 April 1998. This organization was formed by a group of disabled people and their colleagues, who believes that people with disabilities should have a right to full participation and equality, meaning the right of every disabled person to share in the social life of the community in which he or she lives and enjoy living conditions equal to these of other citizens, including an equal share in the improvement in standard of living resulting from social and economic development.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES:

Advise and lobby the Government, policy makers, programs planners and other groups and individuals on the development of policies.

Review and coordinate all activities of all non-governmental organizations working for and on behalf of people with disabilities.

Operate a scheme to upgrade the competence of staff of MATH and member organizations, particularly on management skills, policy and programmed development and to include person with disabilities in staff recruitment and training.

Promote the integration of people with disabilities, including children and women with disabilities.

Review with donor agencies their funding policies from the perspective of their impact on pursuit with disabilities.

Monitor and evaluate the impact of policies and programs on full participation and equality of disabled persons, and disseminate the results to concerned parties.

Develop a strong mechanism for information exchange among people with disabilities, members of MATH and other concerned parties.

Conduct surveys to identify the needs of people with disabilities, collect, analyze and disseminate results to all concerned parties.

Strengthen the vocational rehabilitation services for people with disabilities.

Train people with disabilities to develop confidence, mobility, skills in business management and use of advisory services for gainful employment and on ways and means of searching for employment.

As apparent from the aims and objectives of the organization, the main focus of the organization is to provide advocacy and lobby on behalf of disabled persons in various forums. While some activities at the individual level is occasionally organized depending on need and resource availability, MATH is in the larger part an organization dedicated to empowering disabled persons, and act as an umbrella organisation for all interested in working in the sector. An underlying theme of the organization’s work is also to promote awareness about disability issues and the promotion of preventive measures.

Organization

MATH consists of a General Assembly and an Executive Council. The General Assembly consists of all individual full members of MATH.

The Executive Council consists of:

President
3 Vice Presidents
3 Directors
3 other members

Some positive achievements in the decade

An Eye Camp was jointly organized by MATH one of the leading Eye Clinics of the country, this jointly organized service was a free service provided for the people who were in need.

Lobbied the government successfully for Maldives to become a signatory to the Asia-Pacific Decade Declaration.

Achieved some legal reforms through lobbying the government and MP’s, including the right for a driving license for the disabled persons.

Won representation on the Presidential Committee to design a Building Code for the Republic, thereby achieving requirements for accessibility in public buildings.

Negotiated a change in teacher education curricula to include a unit of study on special needs education.

Successfully negotiated the modification of school buildings within the whole republic to provide for accessibility by disabled students and disabled parents of students.

Successfully lobbying in Ministry of Education circles to develop and adopt a comprehensive policy on special needs education, including resource commitment from government towards the promotion of inclusive education.

Publication of the first alphabet for sign language by the Association, which has been followed by the Ministry of Education publishing a subsequent extension of this work.

Have pre-empted a national scale study on disabilities in the Maldives.

Have successfully negotiated with the Ministry of Health to set out policy on occupational health and safety issues, and establishing a central database of information regarding workplace accidents and resulting disabilities. We are currently launching a lobby with members of parliament to legislate compensation issues for such disability issues.

Formulating a mechanism for information exchange among members NGOs of MATH and other concerned parties.

Negotiate with the National Human Rights Commission on the rights of disable people in Maldives.

Nepal

Background

Nepal, a landlocked Hindu Kingdom with diverse culture, lies between China (Tibet) in the north and India in the south, east and west. It is located between latitude 26º22' N to 30º27' North and between longitude 80º4' E and 86º12' East covering an area of 147,181 sq. kilo-meters, length-885 Km. (East-West), width- non uniform, mean width 193 km. (North-South).

The northern part of the country is covered by High Mountains including Mt. Everest, world's highest peak, and the southern plains where Lord Buddha was born join India. Between north and south there are hills and valleys. Several rivers (many of them snow-fed) flow through the country, running from north to south. According to census of 2001, the total population of the country is 23,151,423; (male 11,714,949; female 11,738070) with per capita income US$244. The literacy rate (16 years and above) is 53.70%. People living under poverty level are 38%.

Prevalence of disability

A number of studies had been conducted in Nepal since 1980 in order to estimate the prevalence rate of disability and have come out with different findings as given in the table:

Table 1. Prevalence rate of Disability as reflected by different studies

Year	Survey on	Prevalence rate	Type	By
1980	Disability	3%	All	IYDP 1981 Committee
1989	Mental Retardation	4.90%	Single	AWMR/Maryknol Father
1991	Deafness	16.6%.	Single	By TUTH/BRINOS
1995	Disability	4.55%	All	By MOES
1995	Disability	5.04%	All	By ISC in one Tarai district (Kanchanpur) only
1998	Disability	8.9%	All	By IMPACT Nepal in one Mountain district (Sindhuli) only
2001	Situation Analysis of Disability	1.63%	All	By NPC/UNICEF
2002	National Census	0.45	All	Central Bureau of Statistics

National Federation of Disabled-Nepal (NFDN) thinks that these studies do not reflect the true picture on disability prevalence rate in Nepal as it used narrow definition of disability. NFDN follows the 10% rate as estimated by World Health Organization (WHO). Ministry of Health (MOH) has been playing an important role in the area of prevention of disability, and in providing basic health facilities under its regular program.

Welfare and Self Help Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

Welfare-based Non Governmental Organizations (WNGOs):

Service for PWDs started in 1969 by the first Welfare-based NGO, Nepal Disabled and Blind Association (NDBA). Its objectives were to provide Education, Vocational training, and Rehabilitation. Social Workers in Nepal speak highly about the strong leadership quality of the late Khagendra B. Basnyat, a physically disabled, and then founder president of NDBA. He was the sole leader and representative of PWDs in Nepal till 1980.

In 1981, Nepal observed the International Year of disabled Persons (IYDP) that was spearheaded by the IYDP Committee. The committee was constituted by then Social Service National coordination Council (SSNCC).

In order to develop and expand services to PWDs other Welfare based NGOs with the support of SSNCC came into existence. The Association for the Welfare of the Mentally Retarded (AWMR) was set-up in 1981, while Nepal Association for the Welfare of the Blind (NAWB) and the Welfare Society for the Hearing Impaired (WSHI) were both established in 1985. These four welfare-based NGOs represented the PWDs in national and international forum till 1990s.

The service delivery model of these NGOs was on charity based. However, they played important role in developing leadership among PWDs in Nepal.

Self-Help Organizations (SHOs)

PWDs gained freedom to establish Self Help Organizations (SHOs) only after the restoration of democracy in 1990. The SHOs established by PWDs focused its works on advocacy, leadership training, and awareness raising activities to safeguard their interest. These organisations use the Right-based Approach.

Kathmandu Association of Deaf (KAD) is among the first SHO that was established after the restoration of democracy. Legally registered in 1990, KAD has been operating unofficially since 1980 with the active involvement of Deaf youths. National Federation of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NFDH), National Association of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (NADH) and Nepal National Federation of Deaf (NNFD) National Association Of the Physical Disabled (NAPD-Nepal) were created in 1995,1996 and 1999 respectively. Nepal Association of Blind (NAB) was put-up in 1993. These SHOs started their demand with strong agitation with the concerned WNGOs and Government agencies.

Emergence of National Federation of Disabled-Nepal (NFDN)`

National Federation of Disabled Nepal (NFDN) was established in 1993 as an umbrella organization of NGOs and SHOs working on disability. NFDN functions as coordinating body of SHOs, government agencies and I/NGOs working in the disability movement in Nepal. UNICEF played key role in setting-up NFDN.

Since its inception, NFDN has become instrumental in coordinating, advocating and elevating the status of PWDs in Nepal. NFDN with its concerted effort has been able to bring out some important legal provisions and programmes at the national level. These include National Disabled Service Plan of Action (DSNPA) 2003, National Policy and Plan of Action for PWDs, 2004 and Disabled Protection and Welfare Rules1993.

NFDN has represented PWDs in Nepal in national and international arena. It has its representation in National Development Council at National Planning Commission, Disabled Service National Coordination Committee at Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare and in Special Education Council at Ministry of Education and Sports. Presently, NFDN represents more than 60 SHOs throughout the country and has setup Networking in 3 development Regions (out of 5 development regions) of Nepal. NFDN represents PWDs in international forum as member of DPI.

Late Munishwor Pandey, former President NFDN, is credited for taking NFDN's status to a higher ground. The strong leadership and dedication shown by Pandey in the disability movement will remain as source of inspiration for PWD leaders and activists in Nepal. NFDN will follow the direction of late Pandey to fight for the betterment of PWDs in Nepal.

National Policies concerned with PWDs

The constitutional and other legal provision to benefit the PWDs in Nepal are:

The Constitution of Nepal, 1990:

Article 11 of the constitution states that special laws should be made for the protection and advancement of the interests of women, children, the aged and those who are physically and mentally disabled. Further article 26(9) directs the state to form policies in the area of education, health and social security for PWDs for their protection and welfare.

National Disabled Service Plan of Action (DSNPA) 2003:

MWCSW has adopted DSNPA with long-term objectives to mainstream PWDs by creating barrier-free environment with social dignity. DSNPA 2060 covers amended Acts/Rules, Rehabilitation system, Education, Health, Training and Employment facilities, Benefit, Standardization for Physical accessibility and socialization. In addition to these, act and rules will be upgraded using human rights as the basic framework. Recent Plan of action 2003 (2060) approved by government has addressed the issues as mentioned. Recently an agreement has been signed by NFDN with MWCSW to implement the program within 7 years period. Moreover, the agreement done to establish Disabled Service National Commission is of great importance for the development of PWDs in Nepal.

National Policy and Plan of Action for PWDs, 2004:

HMGN, for the first time, has adopted a National Policy and Plan of Action (NPPA) for PWDs based on the UN Standard Rules on Equalization of Opportunity for PWDs 1994, UN extended decades for Asia Pacific Region on Disability 2003-2012 and Biwako Millennium Framework on Disability, 2002. In the process of preparing NPPA all concerned government agencies, SHOs, WNGOs, stakeholders, social workers, external development partners, experts and professionals were actively involved. NFDN has worked for months in partnership with NPC along with other concerned parties to bring out this NPPA.

NPPA is a comprehensive document that covers 17 areas with details (global/national context, issues, status, objective, policy, strategy and plan of action with indicators) of activities. HMGN is in the process for its approval from Council of Ministers to implement the provisions as mentioned in NPPA.

Disabled Protection and Welfare Rules 1993:

NFDN fought with HMGN to formulate rules for the implementation of act 1982 and thus the rules was formulated in 1993. The Act and Rule are the major tools for PWDs that have ensured services such as education, health, employment, travel and legal aid services/facilities and tax exemption.

Other acts and rules concerning the welfare of PWDs are:

Education Act 1971, Special Education Policy 1996 and the 7th amended education act, Children Act, 1992, Local Self-Governance Act 1999 and Labor Act, 1999.

National Situation in relation with 7 target priorities of Biwako Millenium Framework of Action

1. Self-help organizations of persons with disabilities and related family and parent associations:

Establishment of Self-help organizations (SHOs) or ANGOs is a recent trend in Nepal. HMGN has started to register (SHOs) or ANGOs since 1990 only. There are many (SHOs) or ANGOs established (more than 60 NGOs) in different parts of the country. The National level organizations are based in Kathmandu. Organizations concerning People with Visual, Hearing Locomotive and Parents Organizations of Intellectual impairment have been showing their strong presence in the concerned areas. The National Federation of Disabled-Nepal (NFD-N) established in 1993, has emerged as a strong umbrella organization on behalf of (SHOs) or ANGOs in the country.

Women with disabilities:

In Nepal in general condition of women are not good. A report prepared for Nepal's National Women's Commission, on the eve of International Women's Day, reveals that less than one percent of women in the Himalayan kingdom boast legal ownership of homes, properties and other assets. According to the report, women legally own only 0.78 percent of houses - that is just over three of 500 women a boast house in their name. Only 5.25 percent of women have land ownership certificates, while only 5.45 percent own their livestock. Around 17 percent of women boast some kind of properties/assets in their name like jewelry, houses, lands etc. Only 16 percent of women have a regular income.
Women constitute eight per cent of the work force of the civil services and private sector.
In 2002 the government introduced an 11th amendment to the Civil Code, bringing about major changes in the country's inheritance laws. The new amendment recognized the daughters' birth-right to her ancestors property, at par with sons. Earlier daughters were entitled to parental property only if they remained unmarried till the age of 35. The law now makes parents liable for taking care of their daughters like their sons, providing them with education and health care. The law is inadequate, as it contains a provision forcing daughters to return their share of property after they get married. Another law also discriminates especially WWDs that if a woman become disabled her husband has a right to leave her and marry again. In vice-versa woman can’t leave her husband in case of his disability. In this way property law double discriminates WWDs. In spite of these laws Women with disability are also coming out in an organized manner. Nepal Disabled Women Society (NDWS) Nepal Disabled Women Association (NDWA) Nepal Disabled Women Neglected Society (NDWNS) and Nepal Chelibeti Disabled Women Society (NCDWS) came into existence in 1994 and in 2001. Compare to other organizations the number of organizations of Women with disability is countless. SWC has also been providing a limited number of scholarships to disabled students and provisions for vocational training with special focus on Women with disability.

Early detection, early intervention and education:

Prevention includes early detection, early intervention and education. MOH has been playing an important role in the prevention of disability caused by vaccine preventable diseases and in the area of prevention of deafness and blindness as per its regular program. There is no regular program of health education to reduce and prevent of disability. However, early detection, early intervention and education program are well taken up by CBRs/CBOs at the grass root level. HMGN has started to support the concerned organizations in these sectors. Assessment service centers had been established by MOES in districts level to diagnose and support special needs education.

MOES since 1993 implements Special Education program at primary level for PWDs through Basic and Primary education program (BPEP) through out country and has planned to provide primary education to all children by 2015. Special education program has covered 56 (out of 75) districts so far in the country. MOES through Special Education Council (2030) has been funding NGOs, which run educational programs for PWDs in different parts of the country.

Training and employment, including self-employment:

Human Resource Development in the field of disability is not in practice in Nepal. The Disabled Protection and Welfare Act 1982 has stated Government or semi-government industries with more than 25 employees should reserves 5% of their positions to PWDs. Organizations and other institutions are obliged to give PWDs priority if they have the sound physical fitness. Few PWDs have been employed by GOs, I/NGOs and Private sectors on charity basis only. The total number of PWDs working in different governmental and non-governmental sectors at different levels has not exceeded 300. Even 1% of the disabled persons are not employed.

The government through Social Welfare Council (SWC) has launched some self-employment opportunity schemes for the disabled. SWC is providing loans of Rs. 5,000/- to 20,000/- without collateral to PWDs who have no means or resources to engage in a business despite of his/her skill and efficiency. Disabled Relief Fund has been providing computer training and sewing training free of cost to disabled persons to make them economically self-dependent.

Access to built environments and public transport:

There are no rules and regulations employed by the government in the matter concerning access to built environment and public transportation (barrier free environment) yet. DPWA 1982 has provision of 50% concession (in all modes of transportation) fare to PWDs and his/her immediate guide (if needed regularly). Some private bus services/companies have provided concession to PWDs in a limited number. Transport Business Federation has recently decided to give one visually impaired person free traveling on all long- and short distance buses.

Access to information and communications, including information, communication and assistive technologies:

Equalizations of opportunities have been deprived due to inaccessibility in the present communications system to People with Communication Disability (PCD). PWDs receive telephone connection from telecommunication office at the recommendation of NFD-N but there is no subsidy system for using telephone. Access to appropriate communication suitable to PWDs in all sectors/areas has yet to be developed. Information and research dissemination system for PWDs and to their families and other concerned persons have yet to be developed.

PWDs remain dependent and continue to experience difficulties in securing rights to education, employment etc without access to these Assistive Devices (AD). The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MWCSW) provide grants to specific NGOs to procure, produce and distribution AD at central and regional level in a limited number. There is no national support service mechanism developed and there is no national center for the production and distribution of ADs. SWC has provision for providing Sign Language interpreter to PWDs.

Poverty alleviation through capacity building, social security and sustainable livelihood programmes:

Poverty alleviation is the main agenda of HMGN in general. HMGN through its different ministries and agencies is directly involved in the process of poverty alleviation through capacity building, social security and sustainable livelihood programs in disability sectors. Establishment of Disabled Relief Fund (DRF) in 1982 in order to provide education, training, and maintenance of ADs and facilitate rehabilitation programs for the disabled persons. Nearly, 8 million rupees have been deposited in the DRF. DRF distributes scholarships of Rs.100/- to 250/- to the disabled children for their education. Ministry of Local Development provides security allowance for 3700 PWDs every year. Self-employment opportunity schemes for the disabled have been started. Social Welfare Council (SWC) is providing loans of Rs. 5,000/- to 20,000/- without collateral to PWDs who have no means or resources to engage in a business despite of his/her skill and efficiency.

Since the beginning of the 1990s, the importance of Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR) programs has been recognized as a means of capacity building, social security and sustainable livelihood for PWDs. Government has started supporting CBR activities for the sustainable livelihood for PWDs in Nepal.

At district level the Assistant Chief District Officer who also acts as district Social Welfare Officer is mandated to issue identity cards to PWDs so they claim different services as per their rights. NPC has included some provisions in its plan of action for poverty alleviation for PWDs in 9th and 10th (each five years) Plan period.

Challenges for PWDs in Nepal:

Despite some positive initiation, PWDs of Nepal are still facing different kind of challenges.

The high-level planners, policy makers, and government authorities, are not completely aware on disability issues.
The formulated (Act-1982) and other legal provisions are not enough for PWDs (including Women with disabilities -WWDs) to mainstream in national development.
There is no regular system within the government to allocate national budget for disability sector.
Governmental agencies are not paying due attention in implementing the formulated rules and regulations regarding the promotion of people with disability.
The social attitudes towards people with disability are still not completely positive.
Disability is still taken as a sin of previous life, curse of God and burden of family and society.
Most of the people have a misconception that the people with disability are unproductive for the society, nation and family.
Services provided by GOs and NGOs are still on charity based only.

In order to meet the challenges NFDN has developed following Policy Plan/program.

Current network with SHOs will be expanded and strengthened.
Governmental agencies will be pressurized for the full and effective implementation of Current acts, rules, regulations, policy plan and Program.
Strong Awareness Campaign will be organized among the PWDs and Community.
Organize regular interaction and do strong advocacy to amend the discriminative acts and rules in general to PWDs and particular to WWDs.
Develop and organize orientation program on rights based issues to GOs and NGOs.

Conclusion

The IYDP 1981 which silver lined the education, health, rehabilitation and security for PWDs on Welfare based approach. The four major NGOs played supportive roles in upbringing the status of PWD in Nepal.

PWDs of Nepal started to express their voices after the restoration of democracy, which provided freedom to PWDs to establish self-help organization in the country. Right-based approach was raised from 1993 after the inception of NFDN only. NFDN with the support of concerned stakeholders has become able to bring issues/problems of PWDs in different national forums including governmental, nongovernmental and external development partners.

Within the period of 12 years NFDN has been recognized and heard by governmental nongovernmental agencies including external development partners. That has resulted in bringing out rules, agreement with MWCSW for seven years plan of action and partnership with NPC in developing policy with ten years plan of action. NFDN believes the PWD of Nepal will start receiving services on rights based approach after the implementation of aforesaid rules policy and plan of action. All these activities and movement were the contribution of UN Declarations, International/Regional and National Conferences. Before to conclude, NFDN would like to thank particularly to DPI for guiding us to move forward for the betterment of PWDs in Nepal.

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