Shillong, Sept 21: Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar on Tuesday said his Ministry is all committed to build an inclusive society for the divyangs (persons with disabilities). He was on a visit to Shillong where he held a meeting with officials of the Department of Social Welfare and other working NGOs.
The Minister said that Divyangs are the integral part of Human resource. He said the Ministry is working on the vision of ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’ of Prime Minister, and has implemented various welfare schemes for developing an inclusive society and empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (PwD).
Informing about the work done in last seven years by the Ministry, the Union Minister said the Government is putting in efforts to provide greater rights and entitlements to Divyang by envisioning an inclusive and enabling environment. He emphasised on skill training programmes for empowerment of Divyang to bring them in the mainstream of society for overall development of the country and to help them to make self reliant and independent.
Modi Govt’s efforts at empowering Persons with Disabilities
Speaking on welfare schemes of the government, Dr Kumar said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Central Government has implemented various welfare schemes in the interest of Divyangs of the country. He applauded the efforts of Prime Minister for empowering the Divyangs and informed the gathering that around 10,000 Divyang camps were organised after 2014 in the country, wherein more than 20 crore Divyangs were given various aids worth Rs. 500 Crores.
The Minister referred to “the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill – 2016” while speaking of the welfare initiative of the government. The types of disabilities have been increased from the erstwhile 7 to 21, he added.
He said the government through this Bill has increased the reservation for Divyangs from 3 to 4 per cent in Central Government Services and 5 per cent for in education for them.
Special sports training instituteS for Divyang
Explaining about various scheme run by Government of India for welfare of Divyang, the Union Minister was all praise about the achievement made during the recent Tokyo 2020 Paralympics held in August-September, 2021 where the Indian Paralympians created history by winning 19 medals including 5 Gold, 8 Silver and 6 Bronze.
He informed that his government has taken initiatives for special sports training institutes for the Divyang at various places in the country including one at Shillong.
