A two-day Nagaland Blind Football Demo/Training Camp got underway at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School ground in Dimapur on Saturday.
The Nagaland State Disability Forum and Prodigals’ Home are organising the event in collaboration with the Indian Blind Football Federation.
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Addressing the inaugural session, State commissioner for persons with disability, Diethono Nakhro said the people with disability are the most excluded people in Naga society.
She expressed concern over the very little awareness of disability rights and their issues as there is still a lot of stigma and discrimination in society.
People with disabilities are very poorly understood and are barely visible as equal citizens, she added.
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Nakhro said para sport in the state was never promoted except by some individuals with their own efforts but they were barely heard and not supported except by some media reports.
She, however, said many positive changes are happening as discussions and steps are being taken up to set up Nagaland Paralympic Association which will fully focus on building up various paralympic sports and conducting the blind football training which is the first of its kind event in the state, as introduction to para sport in the state. She also expressed appreciation to Indian Blind Football Federation for their support.
Sporting director, Indian Blind Football Federation, Sunil J Mathew briefed the gathering about various steps being taken to promote para sports in the country.
Altogether 18 blind footballers are taking part at the event.