Srinagar: After prolonged battle, legal tussle and media campaign, special need child Mohammad Ayaan Zaffar got justice after a struggle of over three years, when the Delhi Public School, Srinagar, finally implemented the orders of the Chief Commissioner For Persons With Disabilities, New Delhi. It handed over the compensation amount cheque before the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar recently and also made a commitment to provide scholarship for free education to the 12-year-old boy till Class 12.
It was not easy though and could be made possible because of the relentless efforts of three social activists Zaheer Jan, Mudasir Shaban, and child rights activist Dr. Chintanjeet Sarna, who kept pursuing the case despite many hiccups in face of an recalcitrant school management.
Zaheer said every special need child deserves equal rights as per Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and this Act became applicable also in Jammu & Kashmir after the abogration of article 370. “As a professional this is our duty to provide these children their rights and parents should know their rights and fight for their rights,” he said.
That the boy could get justice only after several official interventions, despite the court order in his favour, highlights the travails of the persons with disabilities while standing up against injustice.
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Global Bihari has been a part of the campaign to secure justice for Ayaan Zafar right from the beginning (See links), and Zaheer Jan acknowledged the constant efforts and support of Commissioner Sheetal Nanda, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar Mohammad Aijaz Asad, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Srinagar Dr Syed Hanief Balkhi, and Director of Social Welfare, as well as the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, New Delhi in ensuring that justice was delivered to the special need child.
“We continuously approached different forums because the school authorities were not implementing the Court orders and we are very thankful to Central ministry and NCPCR Commissions that we received a positive response from them and they intervened in this case and ensured that the school authorities implement follow the Court orders,” the activists – Dr Sarna, Mudasir and Zaheer, said. They lamented the fact that the child and his parents had to suffer agony, pain and despair all through. They also thanked Bharti Ali, Poonam Dinshaw, Ruby Singh, Pankaj Muru, Akil Paul, Jasmeet Arora, who came forward to offer legal aid to the hapless parents. “We are very thankful to Advocate Roma Baghat and her full team to provide legal support to child. Again thanks to all the people who supported in this journey. Let’s pledge to make our society child friendly,” the activists said.
– global bihari bureau
