Page 27 - NIS English 01-15 December,2022
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Flagship
Accessible India Campaign
ACCESSIBLE INDIA – MEANS
A STRONG INDIA
Every person in the country is
empowered and there is an
inclusive society. With this aim
Prime Minister Narendra Modi
on December 3, 2015, on the
occasion of International Day
of Persons with Disabilities
he made a call for the use of
the word 'Divyang' in his Mann
Ki Baat program to recognize
and honour the power of the
differently-abled in society.
With the passage of the Rights
of Persons with Disabilities
Act, of 2016, accessibility was
made a right.
fter talking to Dilip Chauhan, a visually 'Divyang' instead of handicapped? I hope you
challenged teacher in Ahmedabad, will take this matter forward. With the change
AGujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of these words and the right to accessibility, a
said in the Mann Ki Baat program in 2016, “An transformation was made, instead of looking
idea came to my mind why we should not use the at the disabled with pity, an environment was
word Divyang instead of the word handicapped created to give them an opportunity to stand on
in the country. Whom God has damaged in any equal footing.
part, we call him handicapped. But when we see According to the 2011 Census of India, there
them working, it comes to our mind that there are 2.68 crore Divyangjan in India, which is
is some extra power in them. These are people 2.21% of the total population. Hence, in view of
who have divinity in more than one part. It is the need to create an accessible ecosystem that
the transmission of divine power. I really like helps the differently-abled by providing equality
this word. My countrymen, can we use the word of opportunities and an enabling environment,
New India Samachar December 1-15, 2022 25
