Divyang Tejveer, Abhinav Chaudhary and Divyang Development Society of Uttar Pradesh received national awards. | 05 Dec 2023

Why in News?

On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, 2023, President Draupadi Murmu honoured Divyang Tejveer, Abhinav Chaudhary and Divyang Development Society of Uttar Pradesh with the National Award-2023 at a grand ceremony in New Delhi.

Key Points:

• It may be noted that on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, President Draupadi Murmu presented the National Award-2023 to 21 individuals and 9 institutions from across the country for their exemplary contribution in various fields for the empowerment of persons with disabilities in New Delhi.
• Tejveer Singh, a person with 90% locomotor disability from both legs, from Dujana village of Dadri tehsil of Gautam Buddha Nagar, has been awarded the National Award for Individual Excellence-2023 in the category of 'Best Disabled' for his excellent work in the social field.
  • Disabled Tejveer Singh has already been honoured by the district administration and the state government. In the year 2021, DM had honoured Tejveer Singh. In the year 2022, State Governor Anandiben Patel honoured him with a gold medal and Rs 2 lakh.
• Abhinav Chaudhary, a person with 60% intellectual disability from Ghaziabad, has been honoured with the National Award for Individual Excellence-2023 in the category of 'Best Disabled' for his excellent work in the field of art, culture and social service.
  • Abhinav Choudhary, associated with art and culture and dance, acting and modelling, has participated in various national level dance programs like 'Dance India Dance' and won in 2018.
  • He has been awarded the 'World Record for the Most Dance Forms Performed by a Special Child' by World Records India. He has also won many other state and district level awards.
  • He is running a dance academy where he teaches dance to special needs and underprivileged children, which is a social service.
• Similarly, in recognition of the work being done by the Kanpur based non-profit organisation Disabled Development Society, it was awarded the National Award 2023 for the organisation working related to empowering the disabled in the category of the best organisation working in the development of rehabilitation professionals.
• It is worth mentioning that in 1969, the Central Government had approved a scheme for conferring National Awards to outstanding persons with disabilities as employers and employees. These awards have been instituted with the objective of focusing public attention on issues related to persons with disabilities and promoting their inclusion in the mainstream of society.
• National Awards are given every year on 'International Day of Persons with Disabilities' on 3 December to outstanding individuals/organisations working for the empowerment of persons with disabilities.
• National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the year 2023 have been given under the following categories-

I. National Award for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities-2023-Individual Excellence

• Best disabled person
• Super disabled person
  • Locomotor Challenge - (Locomotor, Muscular Challenges, Dwarfism, Acid Attack Victim, Leprosy Recovered, Cerebral Palsy)
  • Visual impairment – (Blindness, Low vision)
  • Hearing loss (Deaf, Hard of hearing, Speech and Language challenges)
  • Intellectual disability (Mental retardation, Psychotic behaviour, Specific learning challenges, Autism spectrum disorder)
  • Any specified disability other than those mentioned above.
• Best Disabled Child/Girl
• Best person - working for the empowerment of persons with disabilities
• Best Rehabilitation Professional (Rehabilitation Professional/Worker) – Working in the Field of Disability

II. National Award for institutions engaged in empowering persons with disabilities-2023

• Best Institute for Empowerment of Disabled (Private Organization, NGO)
• Best Employer for Disabled - (Government Organization/PSE/Autonomous Body/Private Sector)
• Best State/UT/District in implementation of Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan/creation of barrier free environment
• Best accessible means of transport/information and communication technology (government/private organisations)
• Best State/UT/District in implementation of Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act/UDID and other schemes for empowerment of persons with disabilities.
• Commissioner of Persons with Disabilities of the State best in implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 in his/her State.
• Best organisations engaged in development of rehabilitation professionals.