Textiles Committee, a statutory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, has been conferred as the Best Accessible Website at the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, 2014. Dr P Nayak, secretary, Textiles Committee, received the award from President Pranab Mukherjee at a function in Vigyan Bhavan, in New Delhi, this week.
At the function, organised by the Department of Disability Affairs, Mukherjee said that the awardees will continue to lead by their example and inspire many more to commit their efforts to make our society more disabled friendly.
Drawing inspiration from Swami Vivekananda’s words, the President said, “Arise, awake, sleep no more. Within each of you there is the power to remove all wants and miseries. Believe this, and that power will be manifested.”
The President mentioned that although, we, as a society have been conditioned by our religion and values to be especially mindful and sensitive to the needs of persons with disability and although our Government has taken a number of measures to systematically address the challenges that they face, still we have a lot to do to facilitate their daily life and comfortable functioning.
“Besides refining our policy framework, it is essential for us to reinforce our efforts to have a better delivery mechanism for implementation of the schemes and progammes, including through effective partnership with the private sector and civil society,” he mentioned. The President said that we must do, what we can to ensure the socio psychological and emotional well being of persons with disabilities with an aim to inclusive development to achieve their full potential.
The President emphasized that one of the key instruments for empowering persons with disabilities, is education. Children with disabilities should have access to same educational opportunities that will enable them to equally compete for gainful employment and lead a life of dignity. He emphasized that special training of teachers is essential to understand the needs of children with disability and to guide them effectively. He expressed happiness that Government of India has revised its ADIP (Assistance to disabled persons for purchasing/fitting of aids/appliances) scheme this year to increases the number of contemporary aids and devices that can be provided to students and persons with disability. (RKS)
