International Day of Persons with Disabilities is marked on December 3 annually. The day aims to promote empowerment, inclusion and access to reduce inequalities in society. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life.
Addressing a gathering in Guwahati on the occasion of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said that the foremost duty of every person should be to appreciate, and encourage people with any disability and to be sensitive towards them.
Naidu urged the nation to treat disabled people with empathy, not sympathy.
"As long as officials in the offices are insensitive towards these people, no law can be successfully implemented. They must be treated with empathy, and not sympathy," Naidu said. "I feel we must not call them disabled, but differently-abled," he added.
On the occasion, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu launched Deen Dayal Divyang Sahajya Yojna in Assam for the benefit of Divyangjan. Under the scheme, one-time ex gratia of five thousand rupees will be given to each Divyang.
The Assam Government provided Rs 5,000 each to each person with a disability in the state under the Deen Dayal Divyangjan Sahajya Yojna.
CM Sonowal said that the newly launched scheme will benefit 4.5 lakh divyangjans of the State and urged the people to help in identifying all the people who are having physical challenges so that the government could work for their empowerment.
International Day of Persons with Disabilities has been observed internationally since 1992 to increase public awareness, acceptance and understanding of people with disability. The Theme this year was "Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all".
