THE disabled should work more militantly and not just accept that it is business as usual. We cannot be complacent or else the Bill that we fought for over the years could be turned into wasteland, and the democracy, which we reclaimed this year, could be lost.
A voters’ list without the disabled being registered is likely to be lifeless if it is seen by people as an instrument to be operated by others, while their only role is limited to the election of those others from time to time. A voters’ list is more likely to succeed if it is so designed as to assure active participation by the disabled people on a continuing basis.
The object of this reconstruction is of course to promote the welfare of the disabled. An essential part of this transformation is the extension of our democracy by increasing opportunities for the participation of the disabled in the management and decision-making process of the state.Therefore, it recognises that the new society can be built only by active and continuing co-operation between the state and the disabled participating through all legitimate, popular institutions such as the disability organisation which has been accordingly given constitutional status.
The disabled people must be able to see themselves as being not merely limited to casting a vote on Election Day. They must be able to see themselves as a continuing part of the day-to-day processes of government. Our parliamentary system must be reconstructed to achieve this. Ways must be found to infuse into the National Assembly to be in constant touch with the disabled people at all levels of their thinking and, in particular, not merely at the level of their thinking on central government matters.