NIEPVD Withdraws Order to Shut Kolkata and Secunderabad Chapters

In a victory for rights’ groups, particularly those working with the disabled, the National Institute of Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities, Dehradun (NIEPVD), has retracted its earlier order for the closure of its regional chapters in Kolkata and Secunderabad.

The earlier order, on December 15, had said that the two chapters be shut down. An order issued on December 22 stated: “I am directed to inform by the Competent Authority that the letter No. 3-2(105th)2020-D dated 15th Dec 2020 regarding closure of services at NIEPVD, Regional Chapter, Kolkata and Secunderabad stands herewith cancelled/withdrawn.”

Commenting on the decision, the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) said: “The same day, in the morning, the Institute had issued an order which talked about merger of these chapters with other institutes or handing them over to some other parties. While we said this was a partial victory, the merger part was unacceptable. This has not been shelved with the revised order issued in the afternoon. Our demand for the complete withdrawal of the order has been met...” it said.

However, it advised a word of caution, saying that the “move may come in other other altered forms as well, with ‘cost-cutting’ being the mantra. Even otherwise these centres were starved of funds.”

“While maintaining vigilance to defeat any such future moves, we would also need to fight to enhanced allocations to these centres as also augmenting the services they provide,” it added.

After the order to close down the two campuses were taken, the NPRD had registered its protest against the decision.

The NPRD had said that the closure of such regional centres, formed in pursuit of the country’s commitment to provide equal opportunities to one of the most marginalised and discriminated sections, will impact all the students enrolled there. Not only that, it would also close the doors for all future students from these regions who are looking for courses enabling them to become economically independent.

Requesting the government to roll back the decision, the NPRD had announced that “the West Bengal and Telangana affiliates of the NPRD will be holding demonstrations before the concerned regional centres to protest against this ill-advised regressive move”.