People with Disabilities (PWDs) in Hunza

People with Disabilities (PWDs)

Context and Rationale
In general disability refers to the social effects of physical or mental impairment.Disable peoples are also reffered as People with Special Needs (PWSNs). The PWDshave the same rights as able-bodied people. Disabled people are over-representedamong the poor and are often among the very poorest. Disabled people share the sameproblems as the non-disabled poor but they experience poverty more intensely, andattitudinal and structural barriers limit their opportunities further.

Situational Analysis
Due to many factors disability was very common during old time particularly in old cluster settlements. However, after improvements in health related facilities, isolation of houses from cattle sheds and availability of clean drinking water the incidence is now low as compare to old times. The people of Altit were also living within an old cluster settlement with similar situation as stated above so the incidence was very high in old times. Disabled people are part of every society and it depends on the attitude of the local community how they mainstream them in society.

PWDs in Altit
In order to find out base-line information about the people with disabilities (PWDs) in Hunza, KADO conducted a comprehensive house to house survey in Hunza valley during 2004. However, due to many reasons and lack of cooperation from families it is difficult to find out the actual nature and statistics about disabilities. According to the survey conducted by KADO in 2004 about 2% of the total population both for female and male having different types of disabilities in Altit village. This shows that for every 47 normal pepople there is a disable people in the village.

Percent of people with disabilities in Altit village.
Different types of Disabilities in Altit

Rehabilitation Centers
As part of its obligation to improve the living conditions of the disadvantaged groups and ameliorate their human rights situation, KADO has provided ' work therapy' to around 85 special persons at two centers in Hunza. These centers are a unique blend of
therapy, work and income enhancing opportunity. It provides socialization, training and entertainment opportunities to these adult men and women. It has brought confidence,
awareness about cleanliness, time consciousness and above all has activated many of the
Special Persons who were otherwise mentally and physically slow. KADO has established
two (2) rehabilitation centers for disables.

Sharma Rehabilitation Center for Men, Hyderabad (SRC)
This is a social safety net for special persons (majority of them poorest of the poor)engaged in providing work therapy to disabled men. Work has been categorizedaccording to the capacity of the special persons, attaching them to the various processesof Sharma (local carpet) making like sorting, cleaning, spinning and weaving. Regularly the impact on the mental and physical activeness of the persons is assessed and opportunities are provided for socialization and integration in the society and at work.

Women Rehabilitation Center, Karimabad (WRC)
This initiative was initially supported by the Embassy of Finland. Around 25 women are engaged in embroidery, weaving, spinning and sewing/cutting activities. There are however, more than thousand special persons, especially women in all parts of Hunza who are on the peripheries of the project outreach. In socially responsible societies it is the responsibility of the state, the private and citizen sectors and the individuals to take care of the poor, destitute and the needy.

PWDs are generally excluded from development activities. They are often extremely poor and are continually in 'survival mode' therefore it is important to streamline them in society.

1. KADO Rehabilitation Centre, Hyderabad should be made accessible for the PWDs of Altit either by providing transportation service or boarding facilities;

2. To make PWDs productive citizen Community-based skill enhancement programmed should be initiated for PWDs at village level;

3. Proper treatment is needed for those having curable disabilities;

4. Sensitization about reproductive health especially pre-natal treatment and vaccination during pregnancy is very important to avoid disabilities;

5. Disabilities can occur during deliveries so it is very important to ensure trained birth attendants at Mohalah levels;

6.The public attitude plays an important role for persons with disabilities to function as fully participating members of the society. Therefore, all possible channels at community as well as media level, needs to be utilised to create public awareness about the nature and types of disabilities, and the rights and abilities of disabled people;

7.Families should give proper care and attention to PWDs and encourage them to participate in different activities;

8.Early marriage and early child bearing also causes disabilities so it ishould be avoided;

9.Intra family marriages should be discouraged;
Inclusive education should be introduced which encourage disables:

11.Social safety net for disables is vital;

12.PWDs should be encouraged during different events by giving them chance to equally participate in activities;
13 Sports and recreational activities for disables is important;
14. Govt. Social welfare and Special Education facilities must be availed for disables;