GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd March. In a remarkable feat of social welfare, Madhya Pradesh has emerged as the frontrunner in the development and service initiatives for disabled individuals across the nation. The state’s proactive measures have propelled it to the top position in addressing the needs of this marginalized community. Under the constitutional mandate of non-discrimination and equal opportunities for all, Madhya Pradesh has demonstrated exemplary commitment to uplifting the socioeconomic, mental, and educational well-being of its disabled citizens. Through a series of targeted programs and initiatives, the state has effectively bridged the gap in accessibility, employment, and support services for people with disabilities. The concerted efforts of the government, coupled with active participation from civil society organizations and stakeholders, have paved the way for Madhya Pradesh to lead by example in inclusive development. From accessible infrastructure to tailored skill development programs, the state has set a benchmark for others to emulate.
In Bharat, the percentage of people with disabilities is 4.52%
Consider the figures: 1.3 billion individuals worldwide are living with a disability of some kind. Of them, eighty percent reside in developing nations. Seventy of these villagers reside in rural regions. The World Bank estimates that 5-8% of Bharatiya are considered disabled, depending on the circumstances. According to estimates from the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), 2.2% of people are disabled.
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21) found that 4.52% of the country’s population is disabled. At present there are four types of disabled people in the country; one is the one who is behaviourally or emotionally weak. Secondly, those who have sensory disability disorder. The third category is physical and physiological disability and the fourth category includes developmental disability.
In Madhya Pradesh, work is being done at micro level on every scheme for disabled people of the Center and State.
In fact, the greatest difficulty people with disabilities face today is poverty, lack of access to education and opportunities, informality and other forms of social and economic discrimination. Certainly, to deal with this, every state government makes action plans at its own level and also tries to properly complete the programs coming from the Centre. But it must be said that, among all the states of the country, Madhya Pradesh has been more successful in serving the welfare of the disabled people than any other state of the country.
Currently, the state is ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, led by Dr. Mohan Yadav. Prior to this, during the BJP’s tenure, Shivraj Singh Chauhan served as Chief Minister as well. The good news in this case is that the government has prioritized the needs of the disabled both historically and currently. This is also the reason President Draupadi Murmu recently presented Madhya Pradesh with the nation’s first award for 2023 in recognition of the state’s outstanding efforts toward the empowerment of disabled citizens during the Mohan administration.
Whatever best work is possible to be done in the scheme made by the Center for every disabled person, it can be seen happening in present Madhya Pradesh. Registration on the specific disability identification portal, to provide benefits to as many disabled people as possible through Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan, to include people in the Deendayal Divyang Rehabilitation Scheme, to work on a plan to assist the disabled in purchasing/fitting assistive devices/equipment. Whether it is the selection for National Fellowship for students with disabilities and giving it to the eligible people or the unique identity card of the persons with disabilities which we also call Unique ID for Persons with Disability – UDID, there is a need to provide benefits to maximum number of people by associating them with it. In fact, Madhya Pradesh is doing very good work in all these areas.
Minister Narayan Singh Kushwaha gave instructions to the department to prepare an action plan in advance
Social Justice and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Minister Narayan Singh Kushwaha has already instructed the officials of the department to prepare a special action plan for the financial year 2024-25. So that it becomes possible to bring more momentum in the work being done in the field of welfare of disabled people. This figure is enough to open everyone’s eyes that 6% reservation in government jobs is being provided to the disabled people by the Madhya Pradesh government. Which is 2% more than other states. Today, work is in progress on making a time-bound program with the General Administration Department for the recruitment of 13 thousand posts reserved for disabled people in 56 departments of the state.
Many steps still need to be taken in the interest of disabled people, challenges are no less
In the state, disabled people are being made competent by giving emphasis on technical education along with higher education. Making a rehabilitation policy for the disabled has been placed prominently in the state government’s resolution letter. The Mohan government of the state has started work on the scheme to provide guarantee free loans to disabled people under employment oriented loan schemes. There is an insurance scheme for the disabled in the state, health guarantee, sports schemes and many other facilities which have been made available to them today.
However, it cannot be said that the challenges faced by the disabled have ended yet. The biggest challenge in life itself is being disabled. A very long path still remains to be covered in the interest of the disabled, but still more work needs to be done to ensure that we can create a positive environment in the society. In which it has to be said that the government of Dr. Mohan Yadav of Madhya Pradesh is seen doing very good work.
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