Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a unique record on Friday by distributing rehabilitation aids to over 9,000 differently-abled people at Varanasi, even as he expressed his Government’s resolve to ensure dignity and empowerment of the differently-abled (divyaang).
“Whenever we label a person as handicapped, our eyes begin to search for the particular body part which may be deformed, severed or lacking in strength,” he said.
The PM also reiterated his Government’s commitment to the welfare of Dalits. On the occasion, Modi flagged off the Mahamana Express which will cover the distance between Varanasi and New Delhi in less than 14 hours, offer state-of-the-art facilities to passengers and run thrice a week.
Calling for a change in mindset towards the differently-abled, the Prime Minister said they should be addressed as “divyaang” instead of “viklang” and people should see the special powers God has given to them instead of their shortcomings. He announced the ‘Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan’ to provide facilities to divyaangs in Government offices and help make their lives more comfortable.
Addressing a select crowd at the DlW Inter College ground, the PM said, “This Government is dedicated to the poor, Dalits, oppressed and deprived.
This Government is committed to the welfare of the poor and how their lives can be changed and this Government has been making constant efforts in this regard.”
Dwelling at length on the issue of empowerment of the divyangs, Modi said: “A person who is blind, can obviously not read. But he can decipher the Braille script with the help of his fingertips. In this way, he possesses an ability that those with sound eyesight are unlikely to have developed. We need to look at the differently-abled with this approach.”
Modi distributed motorized tricycles, hearing aids, specially-designed smart phones and tablets and other such appliances to more than 9,000 differently-abled people at the function.
The Prime Minister said: “People with disabilities, when given a chance, do their society and country proud. Indian participants have often excelled in sporting events held for the differently-abled. Hence, we need to acknowledge that the society at large too has a moral responsibility towards them. Social attitudes take time to change.”