Srinagar, Nov 2: The High Court of J&K and Ladakh Monday issued notice to the government on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking to address alleged deficiencies in early intervention, rehabilitation and therapy services for children with disabilities besides developmental and neurodevelopmental conditions in Jammu and Kashmir.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice DrPushpendra Singh Bhati and Justice Rajnesh Oswal issued notice for the government’s response on the PIL and listed it for further consideration on December 16, advocate Junaid Muhammad Junaid, representing petitioner Zaheer Abbas Jan, told Greater Kashmir.
Jan, a social worker and child and disability rights activist, has approached the court, seeking its intervention for a number of directions in the PIL.
The PIL projects the difficulties faced by the children and their families due to the non-availability of qualified professionals, inadequate infrastructure and irregular delivery of essential therapeutic services at government institutions.
It flags the shortage of Occupational Therapists, Speech Therapists, psychologists and other multidisciplinary professionals, besides inadequate facilities at Composite Regional Centres (CRCs), Government Medical Colleges and district-level healthcare institutions.
Furthermore, the PIL notes that parents and caregivers from Srinagar, Budgam, Anantnag, Handwara, Kupwara, Jammu and Leh and other parts of J&K have reported difficulties in accessing regular therapy and early intervention services.
While the PIL underlines that several families are compelled to travel repeatedly to Srinagar or Jammu, or temporarily relocate, to ensure continuity of treatment for their children, this, it says, results in substantial private expenditure, loss of wages and disruption of children’s education.
In support of his contention, the petitioner has relied upon official communications in the litigation.
A communication issued by GMC Jammu on August 30, 2023, reportedly indicated that Occupational Therapy services were being provided alongside Physiotherapy due to space constraints. Moreover, the letter noted that the services were proposed at a newly set-up District Early Intervention Centre at SMGS Hospital.
The PIL states that delays in early intervention can have lasting consequences for children requiring speech, occupational, behavioural and psychological support, particularly when families from remote and economically weaker areas face difficulties accessing specialised services.
The PIL seeks effective implementation of the existing statutory and policy framework rather than creation of an entirely new medical programme by invoking provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, particularly Sections 3, 25 and 27.
The PIL also seeks a verified, district-wise disclosure of available facilities, vacancies, qualified professionals, equipment, waiting periods and referral mechanisms for children requiring rehabilitation and early intervention.
It also seeks a time-bound roadmap for making district-level early intervention and rehabilitation services functional, strengthening existing facilities at GMCs and CRC Srinagar and Jammu, and establishing effective referral linkages between healthcare institutions.
