5 Dec, 2013

India Confers National Awards for Empowerment of PwD’s 2013

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Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, 03-December-2013 – Indian President Pranab Mukherjee presented the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities-2013 at a function organized by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment here today. Congratulating the awardees, the President said that this important day gives us an opportunity to reflect on our collective endeavours to create an inclusive society in which all members, including the differently abled, enjoy equal opportunities and have the right to realize their full development potential.

The President said that with a positive and humane attitude, the society, NGOs and individuals should extend support and guidance to the differently-abled and their families to ensure their socio-psychological and emotional integration into the mainstream of society.

In September, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly convened a High-level Meeting of all nations to highlight the close linkage between development and disability. The President said that since it was felt the development of a nation is not possible if the needs and capacities of PwDs are not recognized, all nations resolved to seriously consider disability concerns in all their developmental activities. This is a remarkable step taken internationally for improving the quality of lives of PwD’s. India has fully endorsed this stand.

The President said the Government is at an advanced stage of bringing in a new and comprehensive law in consonance with the provisions of the UN Convention. This holistic piece of legislation would entail major responsibilities not merely on the Central Government, but also on State Governments, local bodies, and even private service providers.

The President stressed that specific schemes, programmes and facilities must be formulated particularly for the empowerment of children, women, and senior citizens with disabilities as they need special consideration. Education can equip the differently-abled to be strong enough to face the world. Children with disabilities should adequate opportunities to pursue their education which can enable them to get gainful employment.

The President said that economic empowerment of PwD’s is key to their well-being and can enable them to lead a life with dignity. We have provisions for reservation in employment in establishments in the Government sector for PwD’s. However, concerted efforts are required to fill up the backlog of the reserved vacancies. The Government as well as public and private sectors should work hand in hand to improve the skill-levels with a view to enhance their employability.

Also speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Kumari Selja said that the National Awards will spur the awardees to make even greater efforts and reach greater heights of success and achievement in future and they will be a source of inspiration to others.

The Minister said that the theme selected by the United Nations for this day is: “Break barriers, open doors: for an inclusive society and development for all” as PwD’s face barriers in participation in all aspects of society, which are not just physical but also attitudinal, communicational, cultural, economic, environmental, institutional, political, religious, social or structural barriers which hamper their full and effective participation.

He said that over one billion people, or approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population, live with some form of disability and face barriers which exclude them from participating as equal members of society. They are disproportionately represented among the world’s poorest, and lack equal access to basic resources, services and also have a higher mortality rate.

The Minister added that the celebration of this year’s International Day of PwD’s provides an opportunity to further raise awareness of disability and accessibility, as a cross cutting development issue and further our efforts to promote accessibility and remove all types of barriers; to realize our goal of full and equal participation of PwD’s in society. The Ministry is fully committed to removing barriers, physical or otherwise for the empowerment of PwD’s.

The Government is actively endeavoring to bring in a new Act in place of the existing PwD Act of 1995. The Rights of PwD’s Bill, 2013 is at an advanced stage of finalization. The new Bill envisages more rights and entitlements to all categories of PwD’s and would also provide for strong implementation mechanisms. All States and Central Ministries have supported the Bill and have also given valuable suggestions.

The Minister was pleased to inform that during the last three years, a sum of Rs. 95 crore was released to various State Governments and other bodies for making their premises/buildings and websites accessible to PwD’s. The Central Ministries/Departments have been requested to earmark 3% of their total budget for including PwDs. State Governments have also been requested to have a State Policy to give sufficient attention to the problems of PwDs and especially to ensure speedy issue of disability certificates.

Gainful employment is essential for the empowerment of PwDs. The Ministry issued an important notification in July, 2013 regarding identification of posts in the Central Government for PwD’s. The Corporate Affairs Ministry has also been requested to urge the corporates to adopt a policy for employment of PwDs. The Ministry is also undertaking an ambitious plan of upskilling PwDs with vocational skills to increase their employability.

The Minister was happy to inform that the Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship Scheme has been approved. UGC have selected 396 scholars and the Ministry is in the process of distribution an amount of Rs 15 crores to them.

Present on the occasion were Dr. Farooq Abdullah, Minister of MNRE, Mr. Manikrao Hodlya Gavit, Minister of State for Social Justice, Ms. Stuti Kacker, Secretary, Department of Disability Affairs, Mr. Sudhir Bhargava, Secretary, Ministry of SJE, Smt. Poonam Natarajan, Chairperson, National Trust, Maj. Gen. Ian Cardozo, Chairman, Rehabilitation Council of India and Mr. Prasanna Kumar Pincha, Chief Commissioner for PwD’s.

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Full List of Awardees

I. Best Employee/ Self Employed with Disabilities

Sub-category 1. Blindness

Male: Sh. Sanjay Harihar Gaonkar, Maisha Nagar, Kalwa, Thane, Dighe, Navi Mumbai.

Female: Ms. PreetiMonga, 164-B Pocket- A MayurVihar PH-II, Delhi-110091

Sub-category 2. Low Vision

Male: Sh. Ghenkar Maroti Babarao, ‘Mangalmurti’, Bangar Nagar, Hingoli, Tq. District- Hingoli-431513.

Female: No award given

Sub-category 3. Leprosy Cured

No awards given

Sub-category 4. Hearing Impairment

Male: Sh. Puneet Subhash Bhardwaj, 2, Sugam Enclave, Opposite Ramada Hotel, Prahladnagar, Ahmadabad.

Female: No award given

Sub-category 5. Locomotor Disability

Male: Sh. ManojDawar, E-24, Lajpat Nagar – 1, New Delhi-110024

Female: Ms. Ranjita Singh, B-38, NIRD, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh

Sub-category 6. Cerebral Palsy

Male: Sh. AshwinKarthik S. N., 161, 5th Cross Poornapragna Layout, Near Katriguppa Water Tank, BSJ 3rd Stage, Bengaluru – 85

Female: Smt. Vidhina Bhatia, A-57, Shahpura, Near Manisha Market, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh 462039

Sub-category 7. Mental Retardation

Male: Sh. Neeraj Sharma, K-73, Shyam Nagar, New Delhi-18

Female: No award given

Sub-category 8. Mental illness

No awards given

Sub-category 9. Autism

No awards given

Sub-category 10. Multiple Disabilities

No awards given

II. Award for Best Employers and Placement Officer/ Agency

Sub-category 1. Best Employer

(i) Government organization: No award given

(ii) Public Sector Undertaking/ Autonomous / Local Government Body: No award given

(iii) Private/ Non Governmental Organization: Designmate (I) Pvt. Ltd., Horizon, Swati Society Road, Near Darpan circle, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

Sub-category 2. Best Placement Officer/ Agency

(i) Autonomous Government Organization/ Public Sector Undertaking

Mr. D.R. Sharma, Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, District Branch, Red Cross Bhawan, Sector-12, Faridabad, Haryana -121007.

(ii) Private/ Non-Governmental Organization/ Office

Mrs. Anubhuti M. Bhattacharaya, ANUBHUTI-HR Consultants, D3-3071, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 11070

III. Award for Best Individual & Institution Working for the Cause of PwD’s

Sub-category 1. Best Individual Professional

Dr. Shantha Radhakrishna, Sri Ganapathy Sachidananda (SGS), Vagdevi Centre for the Rehabilitation of Communication Impaired, 3rd C Main, 7th Cross, Girinagar II Phase, Bengaluru- 560085

Non Professional: Sh. Swami Biswanathanda, Vivekanad Mission Asram, Vivek Nagar, P. O-Chaitanyapur (Haldia) P.S. & Block-Sutahata, Dist- PurbaMedinipur, West Bengal – 721645.

Sub-category 2. Best Institution

(i) An organization providing holistic comprehensive services to the PwD’s in a comprehensive manner

Jointly to Asha Bhavan Centre, Kathila Banitabal, Uluberia, Howrah-711316, West Bengal & Vasavi Club International, “PREM” 1-1-385/32, Beside Mutyalamma Temple, Gandhi Nagar, Hyderabad 500080, Andhra Pradesh.

(ii) An organization promoting inclusive education to the children/PwD’s

National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research, Chandigarh, NITTR, Sector-26, Chandigarh-160019.

IV. Role Model Awards

Sub-category 1. Blindness/ low vision

Male: Dr. Rajdeep Manwani, Mr. DurgaKunj No. 149, Laxmi Road, 8th Cross, Shanti Nagar, Bengaluru 560027

Female: Ms. NupurJain , 1910, Sobha Mayflower, Ballunder Village, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560103.

Sub-category 2. Leprosy cured

Male: Mr. Suresh RamkrushnaDhondge, The Leprosy Mission Trust India Kothara Community Hospital, PO Paratwada, Dist- Amravati-444805.

Female: No application was received.

Sub-category 3. Hearing impairment

Male: Sh. Dilip Kumar Bhattacharyya, 48, Bediadanga 2nd lane, New Ballygunge, Kolkata-700039.

Female: Ms. VujjiniJanaki, H. No-16-11-16/165, Sripuramcolony, Moosarambagh, Malakpet, Hyderabad, 36-Andhra Pradesh.

Sub-category 4. Locomotor Disability / Cerebral Palsy

Male: Prof. (Dr.) Ajit Kumar GorakhanathPatil, 2, Shanta Ashish, Vile Parle (West) Mumbai-400 056.

Female: Dr. Yasmin Sultana, C-6, Above Nagina, Noor Nagar, Jamia Nagar, Okhla, New Delhi-110025.

Sub-category 5. Mental Retardation/ Mental Illness / Autism

Male: No application was received.

Female: Ms. Rini Das, 3/27, Vivek Nagar, Jadavpur, Kolkatta-70075, P. O.-Santoshpur, West Bengal.

Additional awards given on account of non-receipt of applications in the sub-categories 2 and 5 above.

Sub-category 6. Locomotor Disability

Female: Ms. Darshita Babubhai Shah, 252, Manekbaug Society, Gate No.11, Ambawadi, Ahmedabad 380015, Gujarat.

Sub-category 7. Hearing Impairment

Female: Ms. Vanitha Balasubramanian, B-404 Suryakiran, Sector-V, Plot : 12 & 13, Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai- 400070.

V. Awards for Best Applied Research/ Innovation/ Product Development Aimed at Improving the life of PwD’s

1. Best Applied Research/ Technological Innovation Aimed at Improving the life of PwD’s.

Mr. Jyotiranjan Sahoo, Qtr. No-2RB-17, Delta “C” Colony Unit-8, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.

2. Development of new Cost-effective product for manufacture Aimed at Improving the life of PwD’s.

Mr. R. S. Hiremath, 1234, 22A, Main, 11A, Cross, Sector-1, HSR Layout, Bengaluru-560102.

S/Mr. K. Ramesh & P. Sammaiah, Rehabilitation Center NIMH, Manovikas Nagar, Secunderabad

VI. Award for Outstanding Work in the Creation of Barrier-Free Environment for PwD’s

Sub-category 1. Government Department/ Offices/ PSUs / Autonomous Bodies: No award given

Sub-category 2. Local Bodies: No award given

Sub-category 3. Private Sector/NGOs

Jointly to Howrah South Point, Social Welfare & Community Development Centre, 15 P M Basti, 3rd Bye Lane, Post Office-Shidpur, Howrah- 7111402. & Arushi Society, 1, Shivaji Nagar, Near M.P.E.P. Office, Bhopal, M.P.

VII. Award for the Best District in Providing Rehabilitation Service

Cuttack, Odisha.

VIII. Best State Channelizing Agency of National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation

Meghalaya Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd., Kacheri Road, Shillong, East Khasi Hills District, Meghalaya – 793001

IX. Award for the Outstanding Creative Adult PwD’s

Male: Sh. Ved Prakash Verma, Punjab, D-233, III Floor, Wellington Estate, P.O. Dhakoli, Zirakpur, District Mohali, Punjab.

Female: Ms. Babli Gambhir, 20, Pratap Nagar, Piploda Road, Jaora (RTM), M.P.

X Award for the Best Creative Child with Disabilities

Boy: Master TuhinDey, Village – Chandipur, P.O. Raksna Jungle (Malancha), District – Paschim Medinapur – 721301

Girl: Ms. Aishna Vashishth, 3004, Sector 40-D, Chandigarh.

XI. Best Braille Press

Indian Association for the Blind, Sundarajanpery, Alagrkoil, Main Road, Arumbanoor, Post, Madurai, Tamilnadu – 625104

XII. Best Accessible Website

Sub-category 1.

Govt.: Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi

Sub-category 2.

PSU/LB: National Handicapped Finance & Development Corporation, Red Cross Bhavan, Sector-12, Faridabad, Haryana – 121007

Sub-category 3.

Pvt. Sector: WIPRO Ltd., Doddakannelli, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore – 560035

XIII. Best State in promoting empowerment of PwD’s

Tamil Nadu

XIV. Best sports person with disability

Male: Mr. J. Ranjith Kumar, Tamil Nadu, No.16, MeenachiIllam, Lurdhu Nagar, 4th Street, K. Pudhur, Madurai – 625007, Tamilnadu

Female: Ms. Soma Kundu, Milanpally, Government Housing Quarter No.M/1, S.F. Road, P.O. Siliguri Bazar, District- Darjeeling, West Bengal- 734005