November 22, 2001

‘8’

DISABLED MUST BE BROUGHT INTO MAINSTREAM : DR. JOSHI

        The Government is committed towards encouraging and bringing the disabled of the country into the mainstream. In fact, the organisations committed to bettering the life of the disabled also need to be encouraged through appropriate schemes. This was stated by Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi, Union Minister of Human Resource Development, while inaugurating the regional Abilympics for the North and Central regions in Talkatora Indoor Stadium, here today. Dr. Joshi assured those present that the HRD Ministry would provide maximum possible support to the cause of the disabled who constitute around 10% of the population and can and must not be neglected.

        Addressing the participants (more than 1,100), the Minister exhorted them to achieve the highest goals in life. He gave the instance of Stephen Hawking, who is today one of the most eminent scientists in the world, despite suffering from multiple disabilities. Dr. Joshi also expressed the hope that the Indian contingent would put up a very impressive performance in the 2003 Abilympics.

        The Abilympics is the Olympics of abilities of persons with disability. This international event was first held in Japan in 1981 and is held every fourth year to discover the talent of persons with disabilities and to stimulate the desire of such persons to participate in the economic activities of society. Such events also help ensure the involvement of governments and states in the affairs of disabled citizens.

        These competitions highlight the importance of education, inclusive of its vocational and rehabilitative aspects; they also provide an opportunity to the participants to get an exposure to the latest technology in job-oriented vocational skills. This helps result in economic emancipation of persons with disability which, in turn, helps in their integration into the mainstream of society at large.

        India’s bid of organizing the 6th International Abilympics was unanimously accepted at the IAF Assembly held on August 17, 2000. The National Abilympics Association of India (NAAI) based at Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust as a member of the International Abilympics Federation will be hosting this event in collaboration with the Ministries of Human Resource Development and Social Justice & Empowerment, NGOs, the public and private sectors in 2003. Some 3,000 participants from 50 countries are expected to participate in this competition to be held from November 23 to November 29, 2003