Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 30:

Speakers at an interaction held here today by the Nepal Netrahin Sangh (NNS) stressed on providing equal opportunities to the blind. Former home minister and CPN UML leader, Kadga Oli, said that if his party comes to power, he would solve the problems of the blind. “It is the government’s duty to provide opportunity and bring them into the mainstream,” he said. Though he had not worked much in this field, he hoped to do so in future. Ganesh Gurung, vice-chairman of the Social Welfare Council said that the blind were in need of employment opportunities and their concerns should be addressed by the concerned authorities. “Today’s need is to provide scientific education to the disabled,” said Dr Laxmi Narayan Prasad Singh, president, Impact Nepal. He stressed on the need for active participation of the disabled in the nation’s policy-making.

He stressed on providing opportunities rather than on showing mercy. There are 4,63,889 partially or fully blind persons in Nepal. The central president of NNS Nar Bahadur Limbu, said their main problems are education and unemployment.