The President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind was the Chief Guest at a function to celebrate “International Day of Persons with Disabilities” organized by the DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment here today. He conferred the National Awards on Individuals, Institutions, Organizations and State/District etc. for their outstanding achievements and work done towards empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar, Ministers of State for Social Justice & Empowerment Shri Ramdas Athawale, Ms Pratima Bhaumikwere also present in the function.
In his address, Dr. Virendra Kumar expressed his gratitude to the President of India for his presence and guidance from time to time towards empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
Dr. Virendra Kumar said that the Divyangjans are valuable human resources and the Prime Minister gives priority to the issues of persons with disabilities in the National Development Agenda. His motto is”Inclusivegrowth, development of all and confidence ofall”. The Government has enacted the Right to Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 which came into effect from 19.04.2017. The Act provides for 4% reservation in government jobs for persons with disabilities. In January 2021, the Ministry has identified 3566 posts suitable for persons with disabilities.
He also said that the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) was launched by the Government on 03.12.2015 to provide universal accessibility to persons with disabilities so that they can live a meaningful life with dignity. Public buildings, transport system and information and communication technologyhave been includedunder this campaign. Keeping in view the problems related to accessibility faced by the masses, the Department hasdeveloped a Mobile APPto address those problems in a quick and systematic manner as possible.
The Government has set up Indian Sign Language Research and TrainingCentreto promote the empowerment of hearing-impaired persons and to create sign language in India. The Institute,among other functions,is continuously preparing sign language dictionaries that have so far included more than 10,000 words.
In addition, he said that the Government is implementing a unique Disability Identity Card project with the objective of creating a National Database for Persons with Disabilities. So far, over 64 lakh UDID cards have been prepared in 713 districts of all states/UTs.
The Government is also establishing a Centre for Disability Sports Centre at Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, which will be completed by mid-2022.
He also briefed about the work being done by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the various flagship schemes/programme.
On the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities i.e. 3rd December, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment confers National Awards on Individuals, Institutions, Organizations, State/District etc for their outstanding achievements and work done towards empowerment of Persons with Disabilities every year.
National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the year 2020, were given under followingcategories: –
- Best Employee/Self-Employed Person with Disabilities;
- Best Employers and Placement Officers and/or Agencies;
- Best Individual and Institution, working for the cause of Empowerment of Persons withDisabilities;
- Role Model;
- Best Applied Research or Innovation or Product, aimed at improving the life of Personswith Disabilities;
- Outstanding Work in creation of barrier-free environment for Persons with Disabilities;
- Best District in providing rehabilitation services;
- Outstanding Creative Adult Person with Disabilities;
- Best Creative Child with Disabilities;
- Best Braille Press;
- Best State (i) in promoting Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities;
- Best Sports-person with Disabilities.
Smt. Anjali Bhawra, Secretary, DEPwD and Senior Officers of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities were also present in the function.