Speech by Hon'ble President of India Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil at the Presentation of the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons With Disabilities and Release of a Postal Stamp

I am delighted to participate in the presentation ceremony of the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, which is taking place on the occasion of the International Day of Disabled Persons. Today, we are honouring those who have made outstanding contributions for the welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. Their work is noble as it is motivated by the sensitivity of one human being towards another and at the same time, it seeks the inclusion of differently abled persons into the mainstream of society.

India is committed to the full empowerment of persons with disability. It has a national policy framework and is implementing it with the support of civil society groups. India is also engaged in global efforts to seek equal opportunities for the disabled. India participated in the drafting of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; signed it on the day it was opened for signature on 30th March 2007 and was among the first seven countries to ratify the Convention on 1st October 2007. The Convention is a significant development as it recognizes disabled persons as "right-holders" rather than those who deserve sympathy and charity.

Under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities a number of obligations have been accepted by India to provide facilities, options and opportunities to persons with disabilities to live their lives with dignity. The definition of concepts like communication, specially for persons with visual and hearing disabilities, in the Convention have introduced an element of sensitivity while addressing issues like communication with reference to persons with disabilities. We fully recognize that differently abled persons are equal partners in the economic progress of the country. India, therefore, has become the first to join the Global Partnership for Disabilities and Development launched by the World Bank.

India has been progressive in recognizing the rights of persons with disabilities. Legislation enacted in the last decade and half has done much to bring the issues of persons with disabilities to the forefront of discourse and planning. The Persons with Disability Act of 1995 and the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities of 2006 are important policy frameworks. I understand that the Government is in the process of updating legislation in consultation with stakeholders throughout the country. The new obligations in the UN Convention should be taken into account while amending the Act.

Persons with disabilities have a right to lead a life of dignity and self-respect, this is not a favour given to them. This can be possible only if they get adequate opportunities to pursue their education and thereafter, get gainful employment and status in society. The goal of inclusive and universal education is being pursued under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. I strongly support this approach. However, there is a need to ensure that children with special needs get access to education at par with others. This means, we have to provide the right kind of teaching-learning environment, material in accessible format and barrier-free schools. Further, teachers in these schools should also be trained to provide education to children with disabilities. I have heard that in Maharashtra the state government is going to provided insurance cover to 35000 disabled students, which will include expenses for their medicines. Some other schemes for the benefit of the disabled are also being drawn up. I feel such schemes should also be implemented in other states and the Union Government should also help.

The Persons with Disabilities Act also provides for reservations in Government employment. There is still a backlog in filling up reserved positions. As a major commitment these must be got filled up in a time bound manner. Opportunities for employment will expand in the organized private sector and the unorganized sector. Therefore, the requirement of the day is that persons with disabilities are given vocational training so that they become employable. To encourage such employment in the private or public sector, the Government has very rightly announced a new scheme whereby employers will not have to pay for Employees Provident Fund contribution and Employees State Insurance contribution for the first three years. This would be paid by the Government of India. I hope that the scheme would be made operational very soon. I also hope, that the private sector will take full advantage of this scheme and take proactive steps to provide opportunities to differently abled persons to prove their capabilities. This will also be an opportunity for employers to meet their social responsibility obligations.

Society and social attitudes play an important role in determining the participation of disabled people in social and economic life, often even within their own families. In fact, families of the disabled have a leading role in being a source of strength and encouragement. In cases, when the family neglects the disabled person on account of either poverty or lack of resources or sometimes apathy, the disabled person is confronted with a difficult situation. Education and awareness can correct negative perceptions. NGOs can play an important part in making society and families aware of the needs of the disabled and to make them face the world with confidence. I would urge NGOs to undertake projects for disabled people, particularly in rural areas and urban slums.

As it is sometimes said, the only disability in life is a wrong attitude as opposed to a positive approach. There are examples of disabled persons who have lived courageously and overcome their handicap. Surdas, one of the greatest poets and philosophers of India, was born blind. However, his poems have echoed down the centuries and even today are a part of our ethos. In recent times, I have seen many handicapped persons who have displayed their talent in singing, painting and writing with deep emotions. Avenues for expression of their talents need to be encouraged. Often, disabled persons have taken the lead in bringing about an improved understanding of the process of equalization of opportunities. In this context, they have advocated their own integration into the mainstream of society. A self-help movement of displaced persons can be useful in availing of opportunities and benefits.

An important issue is to provide services and benefits to persons with disabilities. Many disabled persons require technical aids like hearing devices and limb prosthesis. Often very simple equipment like wheelchairs and braille writing equipment help facilitate mobility, communication and daily living. The purchase as well as fitting of aids and appliances should be facilitated, including by holding special camps particularly in remote and rural areas. While equipping the disabled to be self-reliant, it is important to cultivate a sense of compassion and attitude of social responsibility in society, towards disabled persons.

We have to lay special emphasis on the empowerment of women, children and the elderly with disabilities, to bring them into the mainstream of society and improve their quality of life. For many children, the presence of an impairment leads to lack of participation in activities that are part of a normal childhood. Women with disabilities are doubly disadvantaged on account of their gender as well as due to their disability. They become vulnerable to exploitation and atrocities. Elderly persons with disabilities, in the twilight of their lives, are likely to be neglected and exploited. They need special consideration. I strongly advocate special programmes for them.

The causes of impairments vary, but there are a number of precautionary measures that can prevent disabilities such as the immunization and control of diseases and infections, improvement of hygiene, better nutrition, better access to healthcare with special attention to mother and child care and accident prevention. Advances in science and technology must also be utilized for the welfare and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

In conclusion, as we strengthen our policy framework, we must reinforce our efforts to have better delivery mechanisms for benefits to persons with disabilities, including through public-private partnerships with NGOs.

I am happy to have released a Braille postal stamp on the theme of disability today. I am delighted that a postal stamp on Braille is being released for the first time. Once again I would like to congratulate the awardees and convey my best wishes to them. I am confident that our youth will vigourously take part in this social service.

Thank you. 
JAI HIND