Gehlot calls for coordinated efforts for welfare of disabled

Union minister Thaawarchand Gehlot Tuesday called for coordinated efforts from different sectors such as health and education, besides the private sector, for the welfare and empowerment of the persons with disabilities (PwDs).

He was speaking after inaugurating the "National Workshop on Physical and Mental Disabilities in the Light of Global Best Practices in Care, Rehabilitation and Research".

Gehlot said the workshop was organised to promote best practices from across the globe in the area of care, rehabilitation and research for 21 disabilities under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

He hoped the workshop would help the participants to acquire increased knowledge and develop a comprehensive plan with clear objectives towards local and national capacity building for attaining the agenda of Sustainable Development Goals.

Gehlot said strong commitment and actions were required from all stakeholders to implement the best practices, he said.

The minister said it required involving different sectors -- health, education, social protection, labour, transport, housing -- besides different agencies government, civil society organisations, disabled people organisations, professionals, the private sector and people with disabilities and their families.

"It is essential a developing country like India tailor its actions to address existing challenges of early identification, early intervention, education, skilling, employment, home living and community living... making it vital that we establish infrastructure, scientific strategies and protocol of services for all the disabilities under the RPwD Act," he said.

The workshop was organised by the Department of Empowerment of Person with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and hosted by the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD), Chennai