Vadodara: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today lashed out at the previous governments at center for the negligence of physically challenged people or Divyangs saying that in the 22 years since his taking over in 2014, only 56 official events for the distribution of the aid equipment for them were organized while in only around two years of his rule more than 4500 such events has been organized benefiting more than 5 and a half lakh people.

Addressing a function for distribution of aid equipment to around 10000 physically challenged people (Divyangs) at the Navlakhi ground here today Mr Modi said , ‘ I have intensified this initiative to create awareness among common folk about divyags who have so far been largely remained neglected.’

He said that from 1992 such initiatives from the government started and till 2014 only 56 aid equipment distribution events were organized while his government, in the brief tenure of around two years has so far organized over 4500 such events benefiting over 5.5 lakh people.

Mr Modi said that not only the needs of divyangs were ignored earlier during the design and construction of public buildings but he noticed that roughly 16500 posts meant for them in government jobs were vacant when he took charge as the Prime Minister.

He said that his government has started the Sugmya Bharat campaign keeping in mind the divyangs and every public building including railway platforms, offices are being designed as per their needs. ‘ In the last two years we have also filled up around 14500 vacancies meant for divyangs and have initiated steps for the use of one uniform sign language for deaf and dumb divyangs across the country to save them from the difficulty of different forms at different places.

He also appealed the richer sections of the society to come forward to help Divyangs get their self esteem and also stressed the need to widely include building designs for divyangs in the study of architecture.

Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawarchand Gehlot, his deputy Ramdas Athawale, Union Minister for Civil Aviation P Ashok Gajapati Raju and his deputy Jayant Sinha, Governor O P Kohli, Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Deputy CM Nitin Patel were also present on the occasion.

DeshGujarat