President presents awards for empowerment of persons with disabilities

President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday presented the National awards for the empowerment of persons with disabilities here on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Addressing the gathering, he said that the future of the country was depended on ensuring all citizens had the capacity to realise their full potential, as per a Rashtrapati Bhavan release.

"To achieve this goal, we have to create a sensitive and harmonious society, where every person feels empowered - and a society of empathy, where one person feels the pain of another," said Kovind, adding that the Constitution of the country guaranteed equality, freedom, justice and dignity to all citizens, including the Divyang (disabled).

"The government has enacted laws for the empowerment, inclusion and mainstreaming of differently-abled persons. No Divyang person should be evaluated by his or her physical ability, but by his or her intellect, knowledge and courage," he said.

The President congratulated the award winners and said he was optimistic they would inspire other differently-abled persons to strive to reach new heights.

As per the release, he also expressed confidence that citizens of the country would build an inclusive New India "with an appropriate and sensitive approach to our Divyang fellow Indians".

--IANS

spk/him/vd