PRESIDENT GIVES AWAY NATIONAL AWARDS FOR EMPOWERMENT OF
PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES EMPHASIZES THEIR RIGHT TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY AND SELF-RESPECT

SMT MEIRA KUMAR SAYS GOVT TAKING STEPS FOR INCREASED EMPLOYMENT
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PWDS IN PRIVATE SECTOR COMMEMORATIVE STAMP IN BRAILLE RELEASED BY PRESIDENT

20:11 IST

The President Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil gave away awards to 42 persons
and institutions for their significant contribution towards the empowerment
of persons with disabilities on the occasion of the International Day of
Disabled Persons here today. The event was organized by the Ministry of
Social Justice and Empowerment. The Union Minister for Social Justice and
Empowerment, Smt. Meira Kumar, the MOS in the Ministry, Smt. Subbulakshmi
Jagdeesan and Dr Shakeel Ahmad, Minister of State for Communicaiton and
Information Technology were also present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion the President said that persons with disabilities
(PWDs) have a right to lead a life of dignity and self-respect.. This would
be possible only if they get adequate opportunities to pursue their
education and thereafter, get gainful employment and status in society. She
said that there is a need to ensure that children with special needs get
access to education at par with others. To ensure this, the President said
that they should be provided with the right kind of teaching and learning
environment, material in accessible format and barrier-free schools.

Referring to the PWD Act, the President said that it provides for
reservations in Government employment. She said that there is still a
backlog in filling up of reserved position. As a major commitment, these
must be got filled up in a time bound manner, the President emphasized. She
said that the requirement of the day is that persons with disabilities are
given vocational training so that they become employable in the private
sector. She hoped that the private sector would take proactive steps to
provide opportunities to differently abled persons. This will also be an
opportunity for employers to meet their social responsibility obligations,
she said.

Smt. Patil further said that we should lay special emphasis on the
empowerment of women, children and the elderly with disabilities, to bring
them into the mainstream of society and improve their quality of life. For
many children, the presence of an impairment leads to lack of participation
in activities that are part of a normal childhood. She said that women with
disabilities are doubly disadvantaged on account of their gender as well as
due to their disability and they become vulnerable to exploitation and
atrocities. Elderly persons with disabilities, in the twilight of their
lives, are likely to be neglected and exploited and therefore they need
special consideration. The President said that special programmes should be
worked out for them.

In her address on the occasion, Smt. Meira Kumar stressed the government's
resolve to ensure gainful employment for the persons with disability. The
Minister informed that the Government had been taking measures to ensure
that the statutory three percent reservation provided for persons with
disabilities in identified posts is effectively implemented in the
Government establishments and public sector undertakings. Referring to the
latest reports from the DOPT, the Minister expressed satisfaction that in
the years 2004 and 2005, the disabled persons filled nine percent and seven
percent vacancies respectively which was higher than the statutorily
prescribed three percent. She ascribed this to filling up of the backlog of
vacancies. Smt. Meira Kumar expressed the hope that this trend would
continue and all the central Government Ministries and PSUs would continue
to provide employment to persons with disabilities. A number of State
Governments have also taken steps in this direction but, there is a need to
further intensify this effort, the Minister added.

Referring to the fast changing economic scenario in the country and in the
world and its impact on the persons with disabilities, Smt. Meira Kumar said
that considering the expanding scope of employment in private sector, the
Government has been taking measures so that persons with disabilities become
employable in this sector. There is a conscious effort on the Government's
part that the vocational training of persons with disabilities is promoted
and should be appropriately linked with the requirement of industry, she
said.

She also hoped that the Industry would come forward determinedly to provide
opportunities to persons with disabilities. "We are taking up an exercise to
identify the industries where persons with disabilities can be suitably
employed. My Ministry will also be supporting the employment of disabled in
private sector through the newly announced scheme for providing employer's
share of EPF and ESI for the first three years", the Minister said.

Dr Shakeel Ahmad, the Minister of State for Communication and Information
Technology introduced the commemorative stamp released by the President on
this occasion. He said that it is for the first time that the Department of
Posts has arranged for Braille Inscription on the postage stamp and the
first day cover.

The list of individuals and institutions selected for the national award for
welfare of persons with disabilities-2007 is annexed.
 

Courtesy by Government website