Prime Minister Narendra Modi may have been emphasising on making the society ‘inclusive’ by empowering people with disabilities (PwD) in sectors like education and employment, but much to the embarrassment of the Government, no Public Sector Unit (PSU) or the Central Government department has qualified for the national award announced on International Day of Persons with Disabilities on Sunday here.
At the ‘National Award for Divyangjan, 2017’ event organised on the occasion of the World Disability Day, which was inaugurated by President Ram Nath Kovind, the category ‘Award for best employers and placement officer/agency’ drew blank as the selection committee did not recommend any name for the slot.
The category had three sub-categories including Government organization and PSU/autonomous/local government body which went blank. However, Karnataka-based IBM India Pvt Ltd and Indore-based Apna Sweets owned by one Shri Prakash Rathore walked away with the award under the third sub-category-Private/Non Governmental Organisation.
Similarly, no placement officer/agency in autonomous government organization/ PSU was selected for the prestigious award while in the private/NGO sector, Telangana-based YOUTH4JOBS FOUNDATION and Devnar Foundation for the Blind in Secunderabad bagged the award.
States, except a few too seems to be apathetic to the need of the people with disabilities. None won the award under ‘The best state channelizing agency of National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation’ slot. Similarly, the selection panel could not find any website of the government departments and PSUs which could be declared as ‘best accessible website.’
However, among the States, Chhattisgarh bagged the ‘best state in promoting empowerment of persons with disabilities’ while award for the ‘outstanding work in the creation of barrier-free environment for the PwD’ went to Mahesh Chandra Chaudhary, Collector and District Magistrate, Jabalpur and District Project Office, Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, Srikakulam while Mahakaleshwar Mandir Samithi, Shri Mahakal Mandir Prabandh Samitee, Ujjain received award among local bodies in the country.
Individuals were also recognized for their courage and determination, overcoming their limitations. Acid attack victim, Yasmeen Manushree(Delhi), Vijay Kumar Rajsoni (Rajasthan), Samir Surendera kumar Kakkad (Gujarat), Chumki Data (Orissa) all suffering with locomotor disabilities, NK Chokalingam (TN) and Dr. Shruti Hora, (Chandigarh) both visually challenged, were among those who got the Best Employee award for disabled people 2017.
Samarthanam Trust, an NGO from Karnataka not only got award for ‘An organization providing holistic comprehensive services to the persons with disabilities in a comprehensive manner,’ its one of the former player whom it had supported, Shekhar Naik, former Captain of Indian Blind Cricket team was also among one of the awardees.
Every year, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment presents National Awards to Individuals, institutions, organisations, state/district etc for their outstanding achievements and work done towards empowerment of PwD.
“The Government has enacted laws for the empowerment, inclusion and mainstreaming of differently-abled persons. No Divyang person should be evaluated by his or her physical ability, but by his or her intellect, knowledge and courage,” Kovind said while congratulating the winners of the award.
The Modi Government has been launching several initiatives in the past three years. After Accessible India, it has launched- Inclusive India - to include differently-abled persons in mainstream education, employment and community opportunities.
The campaign was unveiled by social justice and empowerment minister Thaawarchand Gehlot recently through a vision document “Inclusive India Initiative”.