The Vice-President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar today stressed that differently-abled people must not be considered objects of sympathy, but deserve recognition for their wealth of knowledge, aptitude, inclination and expertise. He emphasized on the need to create an eco-system whereby we empower our disabled people who hold immense talent that can be leveraged.

जिनको हम disabled या handicapped कहते हैं, यह आंकलन ठीक नहीं है।

कोई भी संपूर्ण नहीं है... जो लोग शरीरिक रूप से सक्षम दिखते हैं, उनमें भी कुछ न कुछ disability मिल जायेगी। #10thNCD pic.twitter.com/wkJLGHen0D

— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) December 9, 2023

Referring to the example of Albert Einstein who suffered from dyslexia, Shri Dhankhar highlighted that our perception of disabilities often hinges on what is visible. However, true disability encompasses more than just what meets the eye, he said, and extends to the realms of mental, spiritual, and emotional challenges. The Vice-President called for addressing all forms of disabilities and structuring suitable solutions for the same.

Addressing the 10^thNational Conference on Disability in Gurugram today, the Vice-President highlighted the shift in perspective that has taken place in societal notions which once deemed women incapable of difficult tasks. Noting that the “ceiling has been broken” with women taking leading roles across diverse spheres, the Vice-President called for a similar shift in perception toward individuals labelled as "disabled". “They are not disabled; we take them to be disabled,” he pointed out. Those who outwardly appear physically able may harbour some form of disability, whether visible or hidden,and nobody is truly complete, he elaborated.

There was a time when it was believed that women may not be suitable for difficult tasks.

That ceiling has been broken!

Our girls are now combat pilots, at the frontline of defence, in all walks of life!

The same is true of people who we term 'disabled'. They are not disabled.… pic.twitter.com/mZ1MD1vx6T

— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) December 9, 2023

Cautioning against the recent trend of merely "putting something in somebody's pocket," the Vice-President underlined the risk of fostering dependency rather than empowerment. Stressing the need to prioritise empowerment, especially amongst the vulnerable sections including the disabled, women, and minorities, he urged major corporate entities to direct their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds towards empowering these sections of society.

I call upon the Corporates:

Time has come when they must use their CSR funds to empower people!

आज की दिन एक संस्कृति चल रही हैं लोगों को empower नही करते, उनकी जेबों को गरम करते हैं।

जब आप व्यक्ति की pocket में कुछ डालते हो, उसके निर्भरता को आप बढ़ाते हो। उसको सक्षम नहीं… pic.twitter.com/bhYCBJQg2i

— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) December 9, 2023

Stressing that India’s ethos & G-20 motto of VasudhaivaKutumbakam is now a ground reality, the Vice-President stated that there has been a shift in the world's perspective towards India. He called for a departure from solely looking towards the West for solutions, noting that now, the West seeks insights from India. He highlighted India's prominent position on the global stage today, highlighting that the “nation's unprecedented growth has astonished the world”.

हमारी तो सांस्कृतिक विरासत है कि हम दुनिया को एक परिवार मानते हैं - वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम!

G20 में हमारा motto भी यही था।

मैं आपसे आह्वान करूंगा कि अब पश्चिम की तरफ देखने की आवश्यकता नहीं है, पश्चिम अब हमारी तरफ देख रहा है! #10thNCD pic.twitter.com/9tdqvrf8Ag

— Vice President of India (@VPIndia) December 9, 2023

Commending the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act in 2016, Vice-President expressed contentment with its thorough provisions. Lauding the vision of extending facilities to disabled individuals in villages and rural areas, the Vice-President underscored the importance of "thinking out of the box and being innovative" to enhance the lives of disabled individuals. “Everyone must contribute in one way or another”, he urged.

The Vice-President also visited the Ability Museum 'Museum of Possibilities' at the Sarthak Global Resource Centre during his visit. Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Founder and CEO of Sarthak Educational Trust, Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.

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MS/RC