Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Sept 23: The first Orissa Youth Conclave organised by Swabhiman focusing on personality development and communication skills was organised at a city hotel Wednesday.
Around differently-abled youth participated in the programme that included leadership training, soft skills development, basic computer literacy, group activities, workshops and a platform for youth to discuss issues, share experiences and evolve advocacy agendas.
Attending the inauguration session secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Luv Verma spoke about the attitude of people towards the differently-abled. He said there was only one disability and that was the negative attitude of people towards the differently-abled.
“People mostly take them (the differently-abled) as objects of pity. Today all differently-abled people know they have rights and that the government is also bringing many new acts to replace old ones. The government has recognised 19 disabilities – the figure was earlier confined to seven,” he said.
There are different schemes and plans related to empowering differently-abled people. Referring to a news item published in
Orissa POST about a man named Mohammad Jahangir who lost his hands after coming into contact with a live electric wire, Verma requested chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati and commissioner-cum-secretary, Saswat Mishra to pay attention to the unfortunate gentlemen so that the government of India can help him in his treatment which would include arranging for prosthetic arms. “The government should ensure the man faces no further difficulties and is able to lead a safe life,” Verma added.
The government is also planning to increase the reservation quota for the differently-abled from 3 per cent to 5 per cent. There are around 2.68 crore differently-abled people in the country who will be provided a unique identification card which will be linked with the Aadhar card and launched by December 3.
Speaking about the initiative Sugam Bharat Abhiyan Verma informed that around 48 cities have been identified in which the government will select 100 buildings where special facilities will be set up for the differently-abled.
A new mobile app will also be developed through which people can identify buildings that lack such basic facilities. Bhubaneswar and Cuttack along with some other cites from the state has been identified for the project.
Chief secretary Gokul Chandra Pati said, “Government assistance should be taken as a help in achieving this greater goal. This should not be an aim in itself. Every one requires a mentor so one should try to find a well-wisher or mentor who can guide you in setting a goal and to achieve it. Technology and education can play a crucial role in uplifting the lot of the differently-abled. Various skills need to be developed with proper guidance from experts for the development of physically challenged people.”
Saswat Mishra, Padma Mahanti and Shruti Mohapatra were the other speakers on the occasion.
