SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SHRI PRANAB
MUKHERJEE AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE NATIONAL AWARDS FOR THE YEAR 2012
FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
New Delhi: 06-02-2013
I am delighted to participate in the
presentation ceremony of the National Awards for the Empowerment of
Persons with Disabilities. Today, we honor differently-abled
individuals, who by the strength of their indomitable will and their
remarkable courage, have many achievements. Awards have also been given
to Institutions, which have made outstanding contributions to the
empowerment of persons with disabilities. Their work is exemplary and
shows sensitivity to the needs of fellow human beings.
2. This is an occasion to acknowledge the
dignity and rights of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and to
re-dedicate ourselves to their empowerment. Persons with disabilities,
often face barriers for participating in all aspects of society. These
barriers can take a variety of forms; those relating to physical
environment or access to information, or those resulting from
legislation or policy or from societal attitudes or discrimination. The
result is that persons with disabilities do not have equal access in
society to services, including education, employment, health care,
transportation, political participation or at times justice.
3. Experience shows that when these barriers
to their inclusion are removed, persons with disabilities participate
fully in societal life and the entire community benefits. Barriers faced
by persons with disabilities are, therefore, a detriment to society as a
whole and reasonable accommodation is necessary to achieve progress and
development for all.
4. We, as a nation, are committed to the full
empowerment of persons with disabilities. The signing and ratification
by India of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (UNCRPD), which came into effect in May 2008, symbolizes
our resolve to move forward on the agenda to provide differently-abled
citizens of our country with an environment for their full development
and equal participation in the life of the nation.
5. The Persons with Disabilities (Equal
Opportunities, Protection of Rights & Full Participation) Act of
1995, is our main legislation dealing with persons with disabilities.
The Government is in the process of replacing it with a more
comprehensive new Legislation in consonance with the UNCRPD. I
understand that this is a holistic piece of legislation which would
entail major responsibilities not merely on the Central Government, but
also on State Governments, local bodies, and even private service
providers. I, therefore, urge the Government to complete the remaining
stages of consultation expeditiously, and to introduce the Bill in
Parliament as early as possible.
6. As policy framework is strengthened, we
must reinforce our efforts to have better delivery mechanisms for
implementation of schemes and programmes, including through effective
partnerships with the private sector and civil society. Effective
delivery can be the only way in which we can see smiles on the faces of
those affected by disabilities.
7. I am happy to note that Government has
created a separate Department of Disability Affairs last year. I wish
the new department all success. I urge all State Governments to have a
similar arrangement in order to give more focus to the issues
confronting persons with disabilities. I also call upon the connected
Union Ministries of Social Justice & Empowerment, Women and Child
Development, Human Resource Development, Health and Family Welfare,
Labour & Employment, etc. to work in unison to achieve the desired
results.8. Persons with Disabilities must be enabled through
education to get adequate opportunities for gainful employment and their
rightful status in society. While the goal of inclusive and universal
education is being pursued under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, there is
also a need to ensure that children with special needs have access to
education, by providing the right kind of teaching-learning environment,
material in accessible format and barrier-free educational
institutions. There is, therefore, an urgent need to train teachers in
adequate numbers to provide education to children with disabilities.
9. We need to remove physical barriers that
do not allow persons with disabilities to have access to various
facilities and services. Various assistive devices are needed to enable
persons with disabilities to lead their lives with independence. Simple
aids like hearing devices, limb prosthesis, wheelchairs and Braille
writing equipment facilitate mobility and communication, and
substantially improve functional capacity. It is essential to make aids
and computer software and accessories available to all persons with
disabilities at a reasonable cost, so that they have equal opportunity
for enhancement and actualization of their inherent potential. Given the
widespread and growing use of the internet in various aspects of life,
it is vital that at least all Govt. and public sector websites are made
universally accessible.
10. Economic empowerment of persons with
disabilities needs focused attention. Government is mandated to provide
reservation in employment to persons with disabilities. All Central
Government Ministries and organizations under their control must take
immediate and comprehensive steps to ensure that reservation for this
category is effectively implemented in letter and spirit. Backlog of
vacancies in all establishments in the Government Sector should be
filled as early as possible. I also request the private sector to
employ more and more persons with disabilities in their establishments
and industries. I am happy that today we are awarding employers of
persons with disabilities. This shows that private sector can also play a
commendable role in appreciating their special abilities.
11. There is a need to provide training to
persons with disabilities so that they can acquire appropriate skills.
The government as well as public and private sectors should work hand in
hand to improve skill levels of persons with disabilities, thereby
enhancing their employability.
12. I am informed that a large number of States
have not yet appointed full-time independent State Commissioners for
Persons with Disabilities though this ombudsman institution is an
integral part of the existing Persons with Disabilities Act and such a
mechanism is also envisaged in the UNCRPD. I urge State Governments to
appoint full-time independent State Commissioners for Persons with
Disabilities at the earliest possible and to equip them with the
wherewithal to function effectively for grievance redressal of the
persons with disabilities.
13. For many children, the presence of an
impairment leads to lack of participation in activities that are part of
a normal childhood. Women with disabilities are doubly disadvantaged on
account of their gender as well as disability. Elderly persons with
disability, in the twilight of their lives, are likely to be neglected
and exploited. They need special consideration.
14. While addressing the needs of those with
disabilities, it is important that attention should also be on
preventive measures. The possibilities of children in the 0 to 6 age
group being afflicted by conditions that can lead to disabilities, can
be reduced by precautionary measures such as immunization at the right
age, control of diseases and infections, improvement of hygiene, better
nutrition and better access to healthcare. Government anganwadi workers
should be specially sensitized and trained to identify children with
disabilities to facilitate earliest possible intervention.
15. In conclusion, I congratulate the awardees
and convey my best wishes to them for the future. My special good wishes
to those awardees with disabilities – your awards make us all proud as
you represent the spirit of hope, so essential for any society to
progress. I hope you will inspire many more to come forward and work
tirelessly in the cause of disability. Also award winning institutions
have demonstrated dedication and commitment and their example will
certainly encourage others to come forward to work tirelessly in our
effort to make our society more disabled friendly. Let us all, on this
occasion, pledge to do our best for the empowerment of persons with
disabilities.
Thank you,
Source : Presidentofindia.nic.in
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