– A total of 1,260 individuals, 845 (396 males, 218 females, 147 boys, 84 girls) from 48 Self-Help Groups (32 in Janakpurdham, 10 in Mithilabihari, and 6 in Aurahi), 354 family members/guardians (145 males, 209 females) along with 36 ward chairpersons, 25 ward members, and OPDs members focused on disability-related issues received orientation on various topics, including legal provisions, vital registrations, CRPD (Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities), advocacy strategies, local resource mobilization, climate change, and relevant local concerns. These groups held monthly community meetings to discuss their rights and agendas, such as participating in the planning process, disability identification, ID card distribution, school discounts and scholarships, and skill development training. They gathered issues affecting people with disabilities (PWD) and presented them to the respective municipalities during local planning processes. They also submitted demand letters for inclusive development. They did regular follow-ups with the concerned wards, and finally, out of 41 wards, 10 wards allocated budgets in the last fiscal year, and all the wards committed to bringing an inclusive budget, policies, and programs for the next financial year.
– SHG networks were established in Mithila Bihari Municipality and Aurahi Rural Municipality. They advocate for meaningful participation in the planning process, inclusion in government structures and committees, accessible education and healthcare, public service centers with accessible infrastructure, and equal opportunities for livelihood support and employment. They submitted their demand letters to the Mayor and Deputy Mayor. They committed to allocating the budget and incorporating plans and programs regarding disability-inclusive development.
– Forty champions (12 women and 28 men) of inclusive development received basic and refresher training on disability inclusiveness, related legal and institutional arrangements for people with disabilities, and effective advocacy for their rights. They released a nine-point declaration outlining their rights and discussed various issues, including ID cards, government structure participation, service provision requests, budget allocation, and involvement in the planning process with ward chairpersons.
– 217 (132 males and 85 females) ward chairs, ward secretaries, women ward members, male ward members, inclusive development champions, as well as representatives of social leaders, FCHV, mothers’ group members, youth clubs, and community leaders, were informed about disability-inclusive development. They are committed to voicing the concerns of people with disabilities in local plan development processes and activities at the grassroots level. The ward chairperson allotted a budget for people with disabilities for the fiscal year 2023/2024.
– A lobbying and advocacy guideline has been finalized and printed. Altogether 401 participants (86 women with disabilities, 138 men with disabilities, 92 children with disabilities, and 85 parents of people with disabilities) were oriented to advocate and lobby for the inclusive development process. They decided to submit a memorandum to ensure the rights of people with disabilities at the ward and municipal levels.
– The Municipality Project Advisory Committee (MPAC) has been established in three Palikas, namely Aurahi, Mithila Bihari, and Janakpur. In a meeting, decisions were made regarding disability screening and ID card distribution, creating accessible infrastructure at public service points, budget allocation, and the formulation of inclusive policies in health, education, and agriculture. They also planned to update the official website for digital accessibility and provide support for livelihood and assistive devices. During the orientation program, Aurahi Rural Municipality decided that the municipality will pass the guidelines for the distribution of disability identity cards through the municipal assembly, make the committee 11 members and complete it, hold regular committee meetings and provide the correct card on time. After the discussion in the program, the committee immediately convened a meeting and distributed disability identity cards to 9 people.
– A total of 18 students (7 in Mithila Bihari, 4 in Aurahi, and 7 in Janakpur) enrolled in schools because of an enrollment campaign and home visits.
– Seventeen mothers’ groups, Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs), social leaders, and traditional healers received training on inclusive education. They pledged to help identify people with disabilities, emphasize the importance of disability ID cards, advocate for inclusive education, and encourage school enrollment for dropouts and out-of-school children. Ward chairs and secretaries committed to ensuring the participation of people with disabilities in planning and developmental activities.
– Thirty teachers and members of school management committees received orientation on inclusive education. They agreed to use respectful language when addressing children with disabilities, collaborate with parents to encourage school enrollment and regular attendance, advocate for accessible infrastructure and resource teachers in schools, incorporate inclusive education into the school’s mandate, collect data, request disability scholarships from the local government, identify children with disabilities, and implement disability-friendly teaching and evaluation methods.
– Twenty-eight health service providers and municipal representatives received orientation on disability and inclusion. They agreed to support the identification of people with disabilities, maintain a record of people with disabilities in register books, integrate awareness programs about disability into regular activities, participate in health management committees, work towards accessible infrastructure at health posts, and coordinate with LIFE Nepal for higher-level medical referrals.
– Information boards were designed and erected at 10 public places in the project area. Additionally, printed flex banners were mounted at schools, ward offices, health posts, and community buildings to disseminate and promote positive messages about disability-inclusive development and meaningful participation in all local developmental activities.
– During the lobby and advocacy event for the implementation of endorsed laws, policies, and programs with local and provincial governments, elected members committed to gradually implementing the laws and policies and fulfilling the demands as per the laws. Following discussions, a ward chairperson committed to supporting and developing an inclusive budget and announced the allocation of 1 lakh for the next fiscal year 2024/025.
– To disseminate positive messages in the community, LIFE Nepal developed and disseminated IEC materials such as pamphlets on dignified language towards people with disabilities and brochures on disability rights regarding health, education, rehabilitation, livelihood, and skill development, as well as provisions in the Local Government Operation Act 2017.
– Information on 1160 (727 Male, 433 Female) people with disabilities was collected through disability mapping to establish a database at the municipality level.
– To mark the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) and draw attention from concerned stakeholders to the rights of persons with disabilities, LIFE Nepal celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2023, at Janakpurdham with 250 participants (100 female and 150 male).
– 299 (192 Male and 107 Female) local government representatives were oriented about inclusive governance. They committed to developing policies and guidelines in an inclusive manner, incorporating issues of people with disabilities, and allocating an inclusive budget.
– To ease the mobility of people with disabilities, LIFE Nepal distributed wheelchairs to 9 beneficiaries (8 Male, 1 Female), 4 tricycles (3 Male, 1 Female), 3 walkers, 3 crutches, and 3 white canes following the disability screening by Orthosis & Prosthesis experts and technical recommendations.
– An accessibility audit was conducted at 3 health posts (one in Janakpurdham-15 and two in Mithilabihari-3) and 2 offices (one in Janakpurdham-6 and one in Mithilabihari-4). After the audit, the entrance ramp and toilet ladder in Mithilabihari-4 were restructured.
– For social and economic empowerment and a dignified life, 71 beneficiaries (53 Male, 18 Female) were supported with fertilizers and seeds for vegetable farming, including potatoes, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumbers, radish, tomatoes, carrots, peaches, brinjal, coriander, pumpkins, leaf mustard, and chiles. Additionally, paddy crops were provided to 120 beneficiaries (85 Male, 35 Female) for the seasonal farming.
– To make it easier for people with disabilities to live a dignified and quality life with economic empowerment in society, LIFE Nepal provided support to 57 beneficiaries (40 Male, 17 Female) for running micro-enterprises, including beautician services, livestock, cosmetics, grocery stores, stationery, ready-made goods, snacks, tailoring, motor/cycle repairing, electronics, furniture, mobile repairing, and religious goods.