The journey towards building an inclusive society for persons with disabilities (PWDs) demands a proactive and comprehensive approach. One pivotal aspect of this approach is ensuring that policies crafted for PWDs incorporate their perspectives and voices.
I was recently invited to the event Our Care About Us: Disabled People and Social Care event on Thursday, 10th August 2023, organized by the Glasgow Disability Alliance, where different personnel from the government, disabled organizations, and other members came together for an Annual General Meeting of Assessing the Social Care Sector.
Summary of the Social Care Bill
The Self-Directed Support Act of Scotland 2013 was a bill passed by The Scottish parliament that enabled disabled people to choose the care they need. Despite this, the government in this event was critiqued for :
But further, Robust Guidance for Policies was recommended to The Scottish Government,
This was a surprise for me as I would have freaked out if this was the case in Gilgit: but to her credit MSP Marie Todd, the Social Welfare Secretary, emphasized that things needed to be changed for PWDs in Scotland. Also, what was surprising was that the officials of the Glasgow Disability Alliance were involved in policymaking at the highest levels of government.
Lessons for the Gilgit Baltistan Legislative Assembly.
Glasgow is no bigger than Gilgit: why is it the case that the GB Government has established might is the right policy? Addressing disability was also an academic query presented by Dr. Bunner of Glasgow University, whose research interests inform the government of ethical practices. Why are we not doing this in Gilgit, where there are more disabled that need the support of the government?
Another question that is regularly asked is if the organization’s officials do not have the appropriate qualifications working on the ground, how can they pursue to gain further disabled rights? This is an excellent question with a simple answer because we have Personal Experience.
What is personal experience like for a disabled person?
If we stick to Personal experience, a person with a disability faces more political, sociological, and psychological hurdles around them. There are two phases that we should focus on, which can be divided into the learning and communication phases.
The Learning phase involves the individual’s socialization: can they play and communicate and imitate the actions of their mother? Parenting experiment. Like any mother, parents would enjoy speaking with their children: but the mother might get rejected by their family for bearing a disabled (special child) in Pakistan[1]. Farhad (1999) says, ‘Educational opportunities for children with disabilities in Pakistan and Bangladesh are seen in the context of the countries’ religious, cultural and economic development. The reason is that people do not want to accept the abnormality that they perceive [2]. Abnormality in Pakistan is often linked to disability because the notion of Parsons with Disabilities being accepted was very limited in the 90s, the generation of disabled people we focus on at home. However, that abnormality is now being challenged by disabled persons, including our partner organizations like STEP and the Hashoo Foundation in the Southern region of Pakistan and more due to social media, a positive aspect of it. Another surprise that data shows from Farhad’s work is that based on the data collected by Akbar (1989) and Richter (1996), GBGM can confirm that special education was not a priority for the government as in the south, data shows that in the 1990s there were only 210 schools in the whole of Pakistan [3].
Moving on to the communication phase, in the same article compiled by Farhad (1999), Malik 1998 states that the parents and relatives consider the disabled as an economic liability and curse of God. Government functionaries take them to be nincompoop parasites. For the general public, they are a nuisance. The disabled themselves are unaccepted by society, lose confidence in their faculties, lose self-respect, and consider themselves fit for dependence upon others and beggary. GBGM has to struggle with this. We are constantly critiqued for not being qualified like others, but is it our fault that the public does not realize it? Even the parents are pressured continuously for not accepting their disabled child. That’s why disabled people are stuck in this limbo of the communication phase, and some teenagers and adults might end up like Genie.
People have to realize that qualifications only get you so much: it is the personal experience, to add the emotions, distress and feelings that only make us more resilient as an organization. This has encouraged our ambitions to strive and struggle for our rights: whether one is living in Glasgow or Gilgit. As a team we have to work to improve the communication phase, whereby more disabled adults can use our skill development facilities.
[1] Using the Urdu Slang
[2] Ibid
[3] Gilgit Baltistan was under the state subject rule of the federal government then.
Due to the conventional academic writing style, our content is sometimes like a news report. Understandably so because it needs to inform the audience irrespective of their values, beliefs, and how they perceive ‘ Persons with Disabilities ‘ in the global society that we live in. Perhaps our website’s aims and vision section is ‘ management talk.’ Our aims, rather than thoroughly detailing the methods that will use and what we want to see in our society, Gilgit Baltistan, for Persons with Disabilities as a result of our efforts. What is our vision?
Keeping in mind that most people want to get information very quickly, the vision for the next five years of GBGM is
• Gilgit Baltistan’s Goodwill Movement will actively seek employment opportunities for as many of our current students as possible.
• Provide future training for another batch of Persons with Disabilities so that they can make a livelihood for themselves.
• Continue work on Skills development Projects and advocacy for Persons With Disabilities.
• Work with the GB government on Skills development and advocacy initiatives.
• To Continue our IT, English, and LED Bulb Making skill development projects.
• Start projects such as mobile repairing and other vocational skills within the next five years.
• Provide Food, Shelter, and Medicine to Persons with Disabilities in dire need.
• Make GBGM self-sustainable so that within the next five to six years, GBGM can start its own Hunar (Skills) businesses or freelance approaches, meaning that the organization can move towards more of a self-reliant approach.
Evaluating Public Attraction
Social Media – Hits versus realities.
One of the things we realized, especially when communicating on social media, is that due to the influx of misinformation, people do not realize the immense difficulties that PWDs face in Pakistan, more specifically GB. Rather people live inside Silos, where they only observe their own beliefs irrespective of the truth, as the premise of the book Two Paths: America Divided or United shows. Why is this the case? The Bystander Effect So, should we accept this as the truth? We live in a world where populism, AKA not caring for social issues, people aren’t doing anything ‘ bad.’ ‘ Let them be them ‘ is the premise no matter what the condition of disabled people is worldwide.
For example, the education case is just the tip of the iceberg; many other cases need attention: but as this is a website that provides facts rather than misinformation that people have spread, the website does not get views, instead, we are stuck in this war of having a predetermined vision, which sadly often has to be redefined by on-ground activities actions and movements in fighting for equal disabled rights, what issues the org has to tackle.
Conclusion.
One does have pre-set knowledge of the circumstances of what issues the Pakistan disabled community faces, especially in Rural areas like Gilgit Baltistan. With the targets being defined, in the future, GBGM wants to see :
· Increased access to education and training for people with disabilities
• Provide affordable healthcare services to people with disabilities.
• Promote social inclusion and reduce stigma towards people with disabilities.
• Provide assistive devices to enhance the mobility and independence of people with disabilities.
• Improve the quality of life for people with disabilities by providing food and shelter as a result of their actions
The Goodwill Movement, a student-led initiative, is making remarkable strides in fostering inclusivity and empowerment for the disabled youth of Gilgit Baltistan. By providing a platform for effective communication and skill development, the movement aims to help disabled individuals thrive in society.
However, the economic challenges faced by disabled individuals outside Gilgit Baltistan cannot be ignored. A disabled student studying Islamic Banking and Finance, recently reached out to the Goodwill Movement seeking support to overcome a financial crisis jeopardizing her education. In this article, we delve into her story and the significance of supporting disabled students in Pakistan.
The Goodwill Movement has been at the forefront of empowering disabled youth in Gilgit Baltistan by offering a platform for effective communication and skill development. This student-led initiative has harnessed the power of social media platforms and the website to enable the disabled community to express their thoughts and emotions confidently.
A determined 5th-semester student of Islamic Banking and Finance, hailing from Jutiyal, Gilgit, has faced considerable financial hardships. Despite her university fees being waived as a disabled student, the burden of hostel fees, amounting to over 1 lakh PKR, has become an insurmountable obstacle for her. Syeda’s heartfelt letter to the Goodwill Movement highlights the struggles of disabled students living outside Gilgit Baltistan in the face of Pakistan’s economic turmoil.
Being a woman with a disability in Pakistan brings its own set of challenges and caveats. Her story reflects the struggles faced by many disabled women in the country. The lack of empathy from the hostel warden exacerbates her situation, leaving her uncertain about her future and education.
Inclusive Education and the Mehnaz Fatima Inclusive Education System: her educational journey began at the Mehnaz Fatima Inclusive Education System, where she excelled and held an A GRADE. The importance of inclusive education in nurturing the potential of disabled students cannot be overstated. However, financial constraints have now put her education at risk.
Appeal for Support: The Goodwill Movement, known for its compassion and empathy, aims to make a difference in her life by raising funds for her outstanding hostel fees. Donations are being sought to support not only her but also other disabled students facing similar financial crises in the future.
At the heart of the Goodwill Movement’s mission is disability development, which includes increasing access to education and training for people with disabilities. By supporting students like her, the movement is taking significant steps towards breaking down barriers and creating a more inclusive society.
The Goodwill Movement’s student-led efforts in empowering disabled youth in Gilgit Baltistan are commendable. However, it is crucial to extend support beyond the region and address the financial challenges faced by disabled students living in other areas of Pakistan. This story serves as a poignant reminder of the need for compassion and generosity to ensure that no disabled student’s education is jeopardized due to financial constraints.
By contributing to the cause, individuals can play a vital role in shaping a brighter and more inclusive future for disabled students in Pakistan.
Looks and appearance majorly influence human beings’ actions . They know their actions when someone says, ‘ I am only human.’ The last article, which mentioned fear, did not go in-depth about how a disabled person interacts in society the previous article. When representing an organization, an individual jumps into the flight or fight response when they have to report objectively – Political or social Government policies. However, Humans rely on the aesthetic – Looks and appearances- which is superficial but needs to be addressed.
When one sees a disabled person walking down the street, one automatically gets into this sympathetic mode: which is acceptable; however, the person could be a scientist or a researcher, which one does not assume. It is this aesthetic factor that makes us sympathetic. In Gilgit Baltistan, though one should have sympathy, it does not mean one should think they are incapable of working or studying. Why should we assume anything when we do not have information? I recently met a person I took to the training center in Gilgit who initially could not comprehend how technology made it easier for disabled persons to interact with the world wide web. These situations are terrible to witness because it shows you that the aesthetic matters rather than the personality or the mind.
The other thing is that most of the time, Persons with Disabilities do not want to disclose information about their disability often because they feel that society will ridicule them for their ‘ health issue.’ During these last few years, I have interacted with many disabled persons – from Pakistan and beyond who would not be concerned about their health issues simply because society will not accept them. We are working on a couple of cases that involve individuals due to their disability not getting any jobs Mumtaz’s story. .
These issues need to be addressed, as basically, one is saying that because of our psychological thoughts, a disabled person should not be employed. Even in Islam, the main religion of Pakistan says that disabled persons should be treated equally.
So who are we to judge based on looks and appearances
The Key to liaising with A Non-Profit Organization in Pakistan is whether they meet specific goals and objectives. The Government of Pakistan defines our organization as an organization that works for the welfare of disabled persons, social welfare act (1961).
The Problems of the Region
Gilgit Baltistan Goodwill Movement only works within the region of Gilgit Baltistan. The organization wishes to see
• Provide affordable healthcare services to people with disabilities.
• Promote social inclusion and reduce stigma towards people with disabilities.
• Provide assistive devices to enhance the mobility and independence of people with disabilities.
• Improve the quality of life for people with disabilities by providing food and shelter.
In the case of Gilgit Baltistan, the awareness of Persons with Disabilities is extremely low. the National accountability bureau (one of the leading institutes of the government of Pakistan) has illegally occupied the accommodation of the Special Education Complex within Gilgit: which in summary, was a boarding school-like accommodation for disabled people Pamir Times Report on Disabled People. This then leads to adult employment being hindered, as discussed many a times on this website blogs. It is one thing for human rights organizations to dedicate themselves to supporting and voicing the human rights of political workers but not for disabled people across the country.
Call this a conclusion, but it is factually accurate as disabled people are voiceless in the country even though they are a more significant majority of the State of Pakistan Nation’s report.
Taking Back Control
More than a few times, I have been told how disabled people can progress with such laws. It is time we take back control, I say. Not in a radical way, may I add. But in a way in which the government and local initiatives like ours work together. On different forums, I have suggested this, but with the ambitions that we have, we need moral support as well as financial support in Gilgit Baltistan.
If governing structures are not strong enough, we must make them more robust by liaising with different organizations and individuals my vision.
A disability certificate is an official document issued by the Social Welfare Department to persons with disabilities, certifying their condition and the level of disability they have. These certificates are crucial for persons with disabilities (PWDS)
If one were to say what Science is, one would define it as the study of objectivity. If one wanted an extended definition, one could add to be objective is to be impartial and report on their findings. Whether one is aligned with the natural sciences or the social sciences, Auguste Comte’s principle of positivism, which is if one can see, one can testify, predict & hypothesize. However, Science has been used by the worst of the worst, like those scientists serving the Nazi Regime of the 1940s and eugenicists like Hitler.
Nevertheless, why is there a lack of awareness about how people with disablities can be helpful in society: it is because eugenicists over the years have said that disability is a sickness. Terms like differently abled and disabled, though, might not be used offensively, but it still shows that society, through Science, justifies Ableism.
In areas like Gilgit Baltistan, where village/country life is possible, the digital revolution should have included Persons with Disablities. Rafi (2021) reports for the IMF, ‘ Their inclusion and empowerment is essential, as it benefits not only the person with disabilities but also family members, who are more likely to leave their jobs to care for relatives in this situation. ‘ Moreover in Gilgit Baltistan, if we assume that 50% of the population are villagers then if there could be a skills development initiative succeeding in India https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3jYVe1RGaU, why can not disabled people follow in this project in Gilgit Baltistan, https://gbgoodwillmovement.com.
While individuals and businessmen have invested in the area of Gilgit Baltistan in areas of
The digital market still requires people from the region, and according to Rafi’s IMF report, Excluding people with disabilities from the workforce can lead to a loss in a country’s GDP of up to 7% https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrqlpY6nl-k&t=28s.
We want investors to reinvest in a more inclusive Gilgit Baltistan through our organization.
In the Podcast by Glasgow Disablity Alliance, I realized that Persons with Disablities must express their voice more clearly and bluntly. While I do not believe conflict is the right course of action, one must promptly reform their behavior if they are doing something wrong. This is the philosophy of Life. One’s ethics and conduct determine their social capital, whether they are unable to socialize, communicate, and network within their society, etc.
In Gilgit Baltistan, someone comes into or goes into power regardless of their intellectual level and freedom of thought. Dr. Saranjam Baig highlights that in Gilgit Baltistan, we (the people) are often scared of talking about such issues as ‘ they’ might look upon this as anti-state or anti-government. While we are in no position to change past circumstances, we can do it in the future https://www.facebook.com/ibexmedianetwork/videos/539903361567231
While I am no one to judge or measure nepotism, the thing is that it benefits a few, not many. We have to change our ideology, precisely regarding persons with disablities. I am not accusing anyone, certainly not a disabled person, but is it not apparent that the 18 crore and 66 lakhs suited someone’s agenda rather than disabled people themselves https://gbgoodwillmovement.com/the-recent-passage-of-the-budget-by-the-gilgit-baltistans-government/. This has to stop. Pakistan is a developing country, but the awareness of persons with disablities needs more investment.
Once you have a nepotistic state of mind, favoritism is your right hand. I should not be saying this, but this also happens in Gilgit Baltistan. This is unethical as some organizations working for Persons with disablities have some other expertise than others, as some might work on
Due to nepotism and favoritism, disabled people often
