On the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities today, the Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu conferred the National Awards on Individuals, Institutions, Organizations, State/District etc for their outstanding achievements and work done towards empowerment of Persons with Disabilities(PwDs) at a function in VigyanBhawean, New Delhi today. Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment ThawarchandGehlot, Ministers of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar, RamdasAthawale, Vijay Sampla, Secretary DEPwD Smt. Shakuntala D. Gamlin and various dignitaries also graced the occasion. A total of 56 individuals and 16 institutions were awarded on the occasion.Addressing on the occasion, the Vice President said that the award presentation programme is a very pious and meaning programme. India is known for its philosophy of “Care and Share”. It is our duty to take care of our physically disabled brothers and sisters. Skill development of Divyangjans is very necessary and useful. He said that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is doing a very commendable job. He opined that the awardees serve as the role model to others. Divyangjans need Empathy and not Sympathy. He said that there is a hidden talent in every disabled person that needs to be harnessed. He congratulated all award winners.In his address Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot said that the people’s participation is very necessary in the overall upliftment of Divyangjans. During past four years, the Government of India has taken several new initiatives for the Divyangjans.
Six Guiness Book of World Records have been created by Divyangjans. More than 7500 camps have been organized and more than twelve lakhs of Divyangjans have been benefitted. Reservation for Divyangjans in Government services have been increased from 3% to 4%. Divyangjans have performed exceedingly well in Para-Olympics games.For National Awards 2018, an advertisement inviting applications from persons belonging to all the 21 specified disabilities was published in the leading newspapers on 17th July, 2018. In all, 1221 applications were received till last date of receipt of applications. These applications were scrutinized as per the parameters prescribed in the Guidelines by four Screening Committees constituted for this purpose. The National Selection Committee in its meeting held on 1st November, 2018 considered the applications shortlisted by the Screening Committees and recommended 72 Awards in 14 categories of National Awards.Till 2017, the Award Scheme was governed under the National Awards Rules, 2013 which provided 7 categories of disabilities as per the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. However, with the coming into force of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 w.e.f. 19th April 2017, the number of specified disabilities increased from 7 to 21 under the new Law. Accordingly, all the 21 disabilities have been included under the National Award Guidelines which have been notified in the Extra-ordinary Gazette of India dated 2nd August, 2018.Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) writes to the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations and Central Ministries/Departments calling nominations for National Awards in various categories. Advertisement is also published in the national/regional language daily newspapers to give wide publicity to the Awards. The detailed scheme of National Awards as also the advertisement issued calling applications is uploaded on the website of the Department (www.disabilityaffairs.gov.in ) in a downloadable format.