The President of India, Droupadi Murmu on December 3 presented the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the year 2023 ar Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. According to a report by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the National Awards for the Empowerment of Divyangjan 2023 was bestowed upon 21 individuals and 9 institutions for their exemplary contributions across various fields.
Speaking on the occasion, the President said that the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities is a commendable medium for empowerment of Divyangjan as recognizing individual and institutional work encourages everyone. She said that Divyangjan who are achievers in various fields should help other Divyangjan to the best of their ability.
About 15 percent of the total world population are persons with disabilities and their empowerment is a high priority, stated the President. Murmu acknowledged the progress in recent years where there has been a change in the attitude of the society towards persons with disabilities. She expressed confidence that with the help of proper facilities, opportunities and empowerment efforts, all Divyangjan will live life with equality and dignity.
The President said that it is a matter of pride that every part of the new Parliament building is accessible to the Divyangjan. She urged all to learn from this and ensure the needs of Divyangjan from the very beginning. We should work with the thinking of innovation instead of renovation, added the President.
Achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty alleviation, health and well-being, good education, gender equality, sanitation and drinking water etc. gives special strength to the empowerment of Divyangjan, asserted the President, adding that India has given high priority to these goals and is continuously moving towards achieving them.
Pointing out India’s best ever performance at Asian Para Games, the President said, “Our players have created a new history on the strength of their indomitable winning spirit. There is continuous remarkable progress in the performance of all players.” She appreciated the inspiring role played by players like Dr Deepa Malik and Avani Lekhara in this regard.
According to the PIB, 30 outstanding Individuals, Institutions, Organizations, States, and Districts were honored for their remarkable achievements and contributions to the empowerment of Divyangjan.
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Addressing the gathering, Dr. Virendra Kumar, the Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, reaffirmed Divyangjan as an essential human resource. He informed that over one crore Unique Disability Identity cards have been issued to enhance accessibility to Government schemes. Dr. Kumar emphasized the government’s commitment to providing equal opportunities, citing a four percent reservation in employment. He also highlighted key initiatives such as the Indian Sign Language Institute and the Divyang Sports Training Center, contributing significantly to the holistic development of Divyangjan.
The ceremony underscored the Government’s unwavering dedication to fostering an inclusive society, with the empowerment of Divyangjan at the forefront of national priorities.
In 2023, applications/nominations for the National Awards were invited through the centralized portal of the Ministry of Home Affairs (www.awards.gov.in). The portal was open from June 15 to August 15, receiving 1874 applications. The Screening Committees shortlisted candidates, and the National Selection Committee, in its meeting on November 16, recommended 30 awardees for 2023.
