Irani asks families having special needs members to speak out

Union minister Smriti Irani today urged families having members with special needs to come forward and talk about it as she underlined the importance of sensitising people about the issue.
The minister said that such sensitisation drives are required more in rural areas.
"People, especially in rural areas hesitate to disclose that they have a family member with special needs in their household.
"There is also need to counsel parents and family members on dealing with them (disabled persons) so that they do not feel like a burden on their family and society. Also their ecosystems should be strengthened," she said while inaugurating the Inclusive India Summit 2017.

She assured all support and cooperation of her ministry for disseminating all relevant information and publicising all schemes through DD and All India Radio to sensitise the masses.
It is very important for all Divyangjans to know about various government welfare schemes for them and for this inclusive information is necessary. Educational institutions nationwide also should be sensitised about the welfare measures for Divyangjans, she said.

She said career counselling for persons with disabilities should also be given due importance. The prime minister's Mudra Yojana should also be used for this purpose.
She also emphasised on the need to harness technology in support of the persons with disabilities.

Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawarchand Gehlot said the government was fully committed to the welfare of people with disabilities and several new initiatives have been taken for their welfare in the last three years under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Inclusion of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) in the fabric of society is essential and can only be achieved with a higher level of commitment, he said.
He was addressing a summit organised by the National Trust for the welfare of persons with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment here today.

Inclusive India Initiative is an awareness campaign of the National Trust aimed at reducing the barriers for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, by making workplaces, public zones and educational institutes more inclusive and accessible.
As part of its Inclusive India Campaign launched on June 6, the National Trust has organised the summit, an iconic forum for experts to ideate and find concrete solutions, for the brighter future of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities (PwIDDs) in India.