SVNIRTAR has been working in the field of inclusive Rehabilitation of the Divyangs, said Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar today.

Briefing the Press at Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation, Training and Research (SVNIRTAR) at Olatpur, Cuttack in the sidelines of the inauguration of a 100-bedded Rehabilitation Annex, Therapeutic Park and unveiling of the statue of Swami Vivekananda inside the SVNIRTAR complex, the Minister said that the addition of 100 beds will further upgrade the status of this institute.

“The Institute is serving the people of not only Odisha, but also people from across the country come to the institute for treatment, training and rehabilitation of Divyangs. The Diploma, Degree and Masters programmes provided here are contributing in creating quality manpower,” Dr Kumar asserted. 

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi after coming to power has taken many initiatives for the Divyangjan. “Under Rights for Persons with Disability Act of 2016, the Government has hiked the reservation for the divyangs from 3 to 4 percent in government jobs and from 3 to 5 percent in education sector,” said the Minister.

Dr. Kumar further said that the Ministry is also making efforts to impart Skill training to the Divyangjans besides extending them financial assistance. Stating that Odisha has many types of Handicrafts and Handlooms, the Minister said that the Divyaangs can be gainfully imparted training in such art and crafts.  He said when a Divyang becomes Aatmanirbhar, his or her family too becomes Aatmanirbhar and hence the whole society becomes Aatmanirbhar.

Later in the day, Member of Parliament Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda inaugurated the 100-bedded Rehabilitation Annex building, Therapeutic Park and unveiled the statue of Swami Vivekananda inside the SVNIRTAR complex in the presence of Union Education, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar.Chief Guest Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda highlighted how the health, education and social sectors have been improved under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s governance in the past eight years. He said that in Odisha, six medical colleges have been set up in the past eight years and two more are coming up in Jajpur and Kalahandi soon.

Talking about how India tackled the Covid Pandemic, Shri Nadda said that the world faced the century’s biggest pandemic but unlike others, India took strong steps and within nine months developed two Covid Vaccines and proved to the world that India has become Aatmanirbhar.

Addressing the gathering, Dr. Virendra Kumar said that the government is developing a skill centre inside SVNIRTAR to provide training to the Divyangjan. “The skill center will come up in a few months and will be a great aid for the Divyangs,” he added.

Union Minister Shri Dharmendra Pradhan stressed on making SVNIRTAR an institute at par with the international standards. Shri Pradhan suggested the social justice ministry to come up with a proposal so that the SVNIRTAR will get the status of a deemed-to-be-university. The Minister assured all help from the education ministry.

“Divyangs have been given due respect in the Modi government. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, Divyangs have been brought to the mainstream. With new style of transformative education system, it is being ensured that the Divyangs get the rights they deserve,” Shri Pradhan said.

Later, the leaders distributed aids to the Divyangs. One of the beneficiaries, SatyanarayanPodh from Bargarh who received a prosthetic hand developed by SVNIRTAR said that he has got a new lease of life because of SVNIRTAR. Satyanaranayan had lost one of his hands in a road accident.

MG/RNM/DK/RK