PDK

The Social Welfare Dept was set up to assist the needy,the poor,the destitute,disaster victims and especially the disabled people. Many NGOs set up centres for the disabled,mostly in the towns and cities.Way out of reach of disabled persons in the rural areas.There are no public transport to get there and even if there was its not `disabled friendly'. How do these `special people' get the facilities enjoyed by their urban counterparts. The Welfare Dept introduced the Pemulihan Dalam Komuniti (PDK) program.PDK means Rehabilitation Within the Community. This PDK centre is set up within the neighborhood.Any disabled person living in that area or nearest to it is entitled to register. Teachers are trained by the department . These `special kids' are taught living skills and basic education like counting,knowing alphabets,numbers,colours. Bigger kids learn handicraft,cooking and sewing. The department supervisors monitor the progress of the teachers and `students'. Sometimes these special kids join in with the activities organised by the community. Each PDK can have its own activity programs.Usually combined with their families and community members. The local health authority is supposed to make visits to the centres to check on the kids' health and the hygiene of the centres. My boy Shafiq is one of the students of the Pokok Macang PDK.I am a member of the management committee. The chairperson is appointed by the local MP,must be someone from the local UMNO or BN branch.Must be very close to the local politicians.Funny,this is a social body but politics still count. The treasurer is also a local resident.The rest of the committee are the parents of the special kids and the local health officer (normally a govt staff nurse). Presently,we don't have our own building.Now sharing the local community hall. A room is allotted for the PDK. Our MP Shariff Omar has donated a piece of land to build our centre.No action has been taken to speed up processing by the Land Office.Wake up Chairman ! Last Thursday,I attended a state level meeting of all the PDKs in Penang with the Social Welfare Dept in KOMTAR. There are 35 PDKs in the state.PW North has the most, 8 PDKs. I met all the chairpersons and reps of the various PDKs.Some are nice guys and some are pompous dictators and primadonnas. One lady was expressing her disappointment on her PDK (Ptg Damar Laut,SW Dist.) being placed 2nd to a Terenggannu PDK in a national level competition. One chairman (PDK Ptg Bendahari,PW North) sulked because the Welfare Minister Shahrizat could'nt officiate the opening of his new building. Some of these guys were bloody rude.Talking on the cellphones while the Director of the State Welfare was giving his opening speech.When they are appointed by their political boss,they don't have to respect the govt people.Hey Fool,this is the guy who is going to give you the money for your activities and other items.Show some respect. Some of them are really shameless.They dare to ask the Welfare Dept to organise trips to Sabah and Sarawak, with govt money.I doubt that they really care about the special kids and other disables they are supposed to protect and educate. Actually these people are the disabled - caring disabled,mentally challenged,addicted to free food,free everything. How can we have a caring society when the people who are chosen to care do not care at all,only care for themselves.