Today press Conference held at press club to announce the induction of next Disability Commissioner. The conference was organized by Helen Keller handicapped Association. The meeting was chaired by Mr. S.S.Vydhyanath, Advocate, Managing Trustee of Vikala Vikasa, working for the definitely abled persons and Member of Helen Keller, Prahlad Desai President Helen Keller, S.P. Nagesh, President, Cricket Association for Blind in India and Prabhu Secretary Helen Keller.

Addressing the Media Mr. Vydhyanath said, “The office of Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities will coordinate and monitor the programmes and schemes for persons with disabilities and take steps to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities. All other Commissions for Example Woman’s Commission headed by Woman, Minority Commission headed by Minority Person, Backward Class Commission headed by Backward Class Person, Schedule Caste/Tribe Commission headed by Schedule Caste/Tribe Class Person why not a “State Commissioner for Disabilities be a Person with Disabilities for this post’’ In particular he proposed Mr.G.K. Mahantesh, Founder Managing Trustee of Samarthanam Trust for the Disable to be the next State Commissioner for the disability, as his contribution towards the disability community has been tremendous and commendable feeding thousands disabled children over 17 years . Like him, there are many other eligible people who are working towards cause of disability.

The organization like us is working for the Rights, Causes and welfare of the “Persons with Disabilities”. It is receiving numerous opinions, from the parents of Children with Disabilities, Persons with Disabilities, Institutions and Organizations working for them is that, appoint the “State Commissioner for Disabilities be a Person with Disabilities” from Government of Karnataka.

Disabled persons have rights to access everything in India. 5% of the vacancies in all Government Departments and Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) are reserved for the disabled persons. This privilege has the concessions like age relaxation of economy orders for effective implementation by Government of Karnataka.

In Karnataka it is estimated that nearly 5 to 6% of the population compress persons with disabilities, under PWD Act 1995, the state is required to provide for rehabilitation, education economic opportunities, barrier free environment and other supporting services which all facilitates the integration of persons with disabilities in the mainstream of Nation.

While Prahlad Desai, President of Helan Kelar Association also proposed G.K. Mahantesh to be the best suited person for the above said post, whose qualification is M.A., M.Phil and received various state and National Awards for his achievement in the field of disability. Therefore we will agitate and not tolerate if this post is given to non disable person.

At present Chief Commissioner for Disabilities at National Level is headed by a Visually Impaired (Totally Blind) why not our Karnataka State Commissioner for Disabilities be a Person with Disabilities.

The term of the present Commissioner will expire shortly hence urging upon the concerned authority of our State to consider our Definitely able persons (Person with Disabilities) demand as this issue is as “Matter of Right” to appoint a Suitable, eligible, qualified and efficient person from this weakest sections of the Society for Inclusive Growth for effective implementation of Persons with Disabilities Act (PWD Act 1995) and latest United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with letter and spirit said Prabhu Secretary Helan Kelar Association. He also said that we will not tolerate if priority is not given to a person with disability to be the next Commissioner for Disabilities.