Kathmandu, November 5:

Minister of State for Health and Population Shashi Shrestha distributed white canes to 151 visually-impaired people on the occasion of 12th anniversary of Nepal Integrated Blind Development Association (NIBDA) today.

Pawani Raja Chandran, a representative from Malayasian for the Blinds, had donated the white canes to facilitate everyday movement of the visually-impaired people.

Shrestha lauded the visually-impaired for “the great role they played during the Jana Andolan-II”. “Taking into account the importance of loktantra, the visually-impaired took part in the Jana Andolan-II,” she said.

“Being physically disabled, their contribution is ten times more than that of normal people,” she said, calling on the government and others to evaluate their contribution and support them in their endeavours.”

“The government has moved cautiously by endorsing the CPN-UML’s amendment proposal for a republic and the Maoists’ proposal of fully proportional electoral system.”

“The time has come for the civil society to pile pressure on the government to fix a new date for Constituent Assembly polls,” she said.

Shrestha also urged all Nepali citizens to be ready to participate in the CA polls and expressed hope that the white canes will energise the visually-impaired.

Hari Regmi, general secretary of the NIBDA, said that the canes will help the visually-impaired move around and enable them to work more and achieve more in short time.

Tika Dahal, president of the Disabled Women’s Association, said, “The postponement of the CA polls has given us more time to make preparations for the CA. We should get united and raise our voices for our representation in the CA.”