Meeting Held to Celebrate Lunglei District’s National Award 2025 under Project LEAP

Lunglei, December 2025: A meeting was held today at the Lunglei District Deputy Commissioner’s Office to celebrate Lunglei District receiving the “National Award 2025 for Most Outstanding District in Implementation of the Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan)”, conferred on December 3, 2025. The award was given in recognition of the district’s exemplary initiatives for the empowerment, accessibility and inclusion of persons with disabilities (PwDs) through Project LEAP (Lunglei’s Empowerment for Access and Equity for All Persons), as well as to acknowledge the contributions of all officials and stakeholders involved.

The meeting was chaired by Lunglei District Deputy Commissioner, Ms. Navneet Mann, who stated that the National Award was the result of collective efforts and teamwork by various departments and partners. She expressed her appreciation to departments actively involved in the implementation of Project LEAP, including Social Welfare, Health & Family Welfare, Block Development Officers, Information & Public Relations, and officers and staff of the DC’s Office, along with local and village councils and volunteers who supported the initiative. She expressed confidence that Project LEAP would continue to deliver more meaningful and impactful outcomes for the welfare of persons with disabilities in Lunglei District.

Representatives from the BDOs and various departments described the award as both prestigious and encouraging, and shared suggestions for strengthening inter-departmental coordination and sustaining the momentum. Proposals included conducting more comprehensive and inclusive disability assessments, organising additional health assessment camps for persons with disabilities in the coming year, and ensuring stronger follow-up actions on government recommendations arising from Access Audits to make public spaces more accessible.

Project LEAP, implemented under the leadership of the Lunglei District Administration, is a comprehensive district-level initiative aimed at uplifting persons with disabilities, ensuring they are able to access their rights, services and opportunities in both rural and urban areas. The project focuses on capacity building, awareness generation and inclusive planning so that no person with disability is left behind. Owing to its innovative and effective approach, Project LEAP has been recognised as a model initiative at the national level, leading to the conferment of the National Award 2025.

Under Project LEAP, a house-to-house disability survey was conducted across villages in the district between January and March 2025, during which over 1,400 persons with disabilities were identified. Health assessment camps were organised at various locations, benefiting 1,091 persons, resulting in the issuance of several Unique Disability Identity (UDID) Cards and the processing of applications for various assistive devices and support schemes. In June 2025, in collaboration with ALIMCO, assistive aids and appliances worth over ₹52 lakh were distributed to 740 beneficiaries in a single-day event.

Additionally, Access Audits were carried out to plan for barrier-free entry to key public spaces and services, with proposals developed to improve accessibility for persons with disabilities. A successful Purple Fair, showcasing the skills and abilities of persons with disabilities, was also organised as part of the initiative.