Biggest ever Samajik Adhikarita Shivir held at the sacred city of Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh today for distribution of Aids and Assistive devices among senior citizens and divyangjan . Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Other dignitaries who graced the occasion were the Governor of UP Smt. Anandi Ben Patel, Chief Minister of UP Yogi Aditya Nath, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Thaawarchand Gehlot, Ministers of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Shri Krishna Pal Gurjar, Shri Ramdas Athawale, Shri Rattan Lal Kataria, Deputy Chief Minister of UP Shri Keshav Prasad Maurya, UP State Government Ministers and Local MPs and MLAs. Secretary, DEPwD, Smt. Shakuntala D. Gamlin and other senior officers from the Ministry and Government of Uttar Pradesh were also present.In this historic event, 56905 Aids and Assistive devices were distributed to 26874 beneficiary includes Divyangjan under ADIP and senior citizens under Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana comprising of 10,416 Divyangjan and 16,458 senior citizens. Total value of the aids and assistive devices amounts to approx. Rs 19,37,76,980/-.Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister quoted the age old maxim in Sanskrit, - “स्वस्ति: प्रजाभ्यः परिपालयंतां. न्यायेन मार्गेण महीं महीशाः (Swastih Prajaabhyah Paripaalayantaam, Nyaayena Maarge Na, Maheem Mahishaah)” meaning it is the duty of the Government to get equal justice. He said, “This maxim is the basis for the philosophy of Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas Sabka Vishwaas. With this spirit, our government is working to the welfare & development of each and every one in the society. It is my government’s first priority to protect the interests of 130 Crore Indians whether Senior Citizens, Divyangjan, Tribals or the downtrodden”.Referring to the mega camp of distribution of aids and devices the Prime Minister said it is a part of the Government’s effort to provide better living to one and all. "During the time of earlier governments, such distribution camps were hardly organised, and such mega camps were very rare. In the last five years, our government has set up about 9,000 camps in different parts of the country," he said. He said in the last five years the Government has distributed over Rs 900 Crore worth of aids and devices to the Divyangjan.
Prime Minister said, “In the development of a New India, it is essential that there is an equal participation by the Divyangjan Youth and Children. The Government is encouraging them be it the Industrial Sector, Service Sector or in the field of Sports and Games”. “Ours is the first Government which has enacted the “Rights of Persons with the Disabilities Act”, through this we have expanded the categories of disabilities from 7 to 21. We have also increased the quota of reservation for Higher Education from 3% to 5% for the Divyangjan”The Prime Minister said that in the last five years, many buildings in the country, more than 700 railway stations and airports, have been made accessible to the disabled. The remaining ones will also be made accessible by linking to the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, he added.Speaking on the occasion Dr.Thaawarchand Gehlot said that under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister, DEPwD under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been continuously progressing in the path of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and Senior citizens. He said that in this process DEPwD has already created Seven Guinness Book of World Records earlier. He stated that that the Ministry is implementing UDID card project for the purpose of issuing UDID cards for every Divyangjan which will be recognised across the country.Yogi Aditya Nath in his address informed that the Government of UP has increased the amount of disability pension from Rs 300 to Rs 500. He also expressed his gratitude to the Union Ministry for Social Justice and Empowerment for taking wide ranging initiatives for comprehensive empowerment of divyangjan across the country covering districts and sub districts as well. He also informed that his government is taking steps to empower Divyangjan and applauded the support of Member of Parliaments, Prayagraj, Badohi and Phoolpur & MLA and MLCs those who contributed by proving subsidy from their local area development fund in providing Motorised tricycle to Divyangjan of Prayagraj.With a view to maximise intended benefits to Senior Citizens and Divyangjan in the district of Prayagraj, ALIMCO, a Central Public Sector Enterprise, was ordered by Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to conduct assessment camps. Accordingly, the camps were conducted with full support from district administration. The Assessment camps of Senior Citizens were conducted at block level 20 locations, 05 Municipal limits of Prayagraj & 01 Gram Panchayat in Prayagraj district during the period of 09th to 21st December 2019, 06th to 10th January 2020, 07th February 2020 & 22nd February 2020 in which a total of 26874 beneficiaries were registered.