Indian disability NGOs praised by Mauritius envoy

Indian NGOs are playing a significant role in uplifting the social and economic conditions of people with disability, and other countries can learn from India's example how to better the lives of the disabled, High Commissioner of Mauritius to India, Arye Kumar Jagessur has said.

"The delegations of teachers from Mauritius visiting India every year have highly benefited by learning the skills and about the welfare programmes for improving the lives of the disabled in Mauritius," Jagessur said at an event Saturday on the eve of Mother's Day.

He was addressing an event titled "Maa Tujhe Salam" to felicitate mothers of people with disability, organised by NGO Swaha Bhawa at the Mauritius High Commission here.

The envoy said the high commission was always ready to support non-profit organisations working for the welfare of disabled people.

"Mauritius and India have always shared deep-rooted cultural and economic ties. We highly value the unflinching support of India in our economic progress, social development and cultural buoyancy and we remain a trusted partner for India," Jagessur told IANS on the sidelines of the event.

According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), an estimated 368 million of the world's working-age people have some kind of disability, of whom over 80 percent are unemployed.

In India alone, over 70 million people live with disabilities but only about five percent manage to get employment.

Jagessur also said there was a need for developing countries to change their attitude towards people with disability and pay heed towards employing them according to the talent they possess.

"It won't just foster the economic power of a country but also lead to social development of the people, which can't be ignored in at all," he added.