Blind football training camp in Nagaland

Our Bureau

KOHIMA, February 15, 2020: A two-day Nagaland Blind Football Demo and Training Camp conducted by Office of the Disabilities Commissioner got underway at Don Bosco Higher Secondary school Ground, Dimapur. The programme is held with Nagaland State Disability Forum and Prodigals' Home as organising partners in collaboration with the Indian Blind Football Federation.

Addressing the inaugural session, State Commissioner for Persons with Disability, Nagaland, Diethono Nakhro stated that people with disability are the most excluded people in Naga society. She expressed concern over the very little awareness on disability rights and their issues in the society as there is still lot of stigma and discrimination in the society. People with disabilities were very poorly understood and were barely visible as equal citizens, she added. 

Nakhro said that para sport in the state was never promoted except by some individual with their own effort earned laurels but were barely heard about and were not supported except some few media reports. She however, said that many positive changes are happening as discussion and steps are being taken up to setup Nagaland Paralympic Association which will be fully focused on building up of 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, IBFF, Sunil J Mathew briefed the gathering about their organisation and various steps that are being take up to promote para sports in the country.