Disabled people are getting the benefit of many schemes under the leadership of Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai: Mahendra Singh Marpachchi

World Disabled Day is celebrated with great pomp every year on 3 December. Its objective is to ensure the rights of disabled persons, expand opportunities for them and increase awareness in the society towards them. This Disabled Day was started by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992. The main objective of this Disabled Day is to create a society for disabled persons where they can use their rights without any discrimination.

In 1981, the United Nations celebrated the “International Year of Disabled Persons”. After this, the decade from 1983 to 1992 was declared the “Decade of Disabled Persons”. During this period, efforts were made to provide equal opportunities to disabled persons in the field of education, health and employment. In 2006, the United Nations implemented the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This convention gives legal recognition to provide rights and inclusion to disabled persons in every field of society. India adopted it in 2007 and included it in its policies. In India, the “Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act” came into force in 1995 regarding the rights of persons with disabilities. This Act ensured the rights of persons with disabilities in education, employment and public places. In 2016, this law was amended to increase the number of disabilities to 21 and reservation, pension and social security schemes for persons with disabilities have been strengthened.

The central government has launched several schemes for the empowerment of persons with disabilities. Among these, the “Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan” is prominent, which aims to make public buildings, transport and digital services accessible to persons with disabilities. The “Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities” provides education, employment and technical assistance to persons with disabilities. At the same time, under the “Skill India” initiative, disabled youth are being trained for self-employment and employment.

In Chhattisgarh, under the leadership of Vishnudev Sai, several important schemes have been implemented for the upliftment of persons with disabilities. Special schools and equipment are being provided under inclusive education. Under the Divyangjan Swarojgar Yojana, financial assistance and training is being provided to provide employment opportunities to persons with disabilities. Public buildings and transport have been made friendly for disabled persons through the ”Sugam Chhattisgarh Abhiyan”. The government has provided financial and material support to disabled persons through various types of free equipment distribution and Divyang Pension Yojana. Yet today, disabled persons face many challenges. These include discrimination in society, lack of facilities and limited opportunities in employment and education. To deal with these challenges, there is a need to run extensive awareness campaigns, open special schools in rural areas and use technological innovation.

Today, disability can be divided into physical, mental, sensory and intellectual categories. The main types of disability are physical disability such as polio or spinal cord injury, visual impairment, hearing impairment, mental and intellectual disability and neurological disability. The main causes include congenital defects, accidents, infections, malnutrition and mental trauma. These problems can be treated through physiotherapy, surgery, counselling and assistive devices. Disabled persons face many types of problems in society. Even today, they are discriminated against at some places, their opportunities in the field of education and employment are limited, and they do not have access to public places. Lack of health services and equipment also increases their challenges. To deal with these problems, there is a need to run awareness campaigns, increase accessibility, provide special health services and provide financial assistance.

The Central and Chhattisgarh governments have implemented several schemes for the welfare of disabled persons. Prominent among these are ”Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan”, ”Divyangjan Swarojgar Yojanas” and ”Artificial Limbs Schemes”. In Chhattisgarh, under the leadership of Vishnudev Sai, better opportunities are being provided to the disabled persons through schemes like inclusive education, self-employment scheme and “Sugaam Chhattisgarh Abhiyan”. This World Disabled Day is not just a one-day event, but this Divyang Day inspires us to create a society which is based on the values ​​of equality, rights and inclusiveness. The Central Government and the Government of Chhattisgarh have made commendable efforts in this direction. It is our collective responsibility to take these efforts forward and create an environment in which disabled persons get respect and equal opportunities.