Disabled to be honoured with National Awards

New Delhi, Nov 27 (UNI) To recognise the efforts of the disabled and to encourage them to achieve excellence in different fields of life, the government will present national awards on December 3, which has been declared as the 'International Day of Disabled Persons'.

The awards will be given to the most efficient and outstanding employees/self-employed with disabilities, best employers, best placement agency/officer, outstanding individuals, outstanding institutions, role models, outstanding creative disabled individuals and for best applied research/innovation/product development, aimed at improving the life of people with disabilities.

Awards will also be given to Government Sector, Public Sector Undertakings and private enterprises for creating barrier free environment for the people with disabilities, the best district in the field of disability rehabilitation, best Local Level Committee of the National Trust and to the best State Channelising Agency (SCA) of the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation(NHFDC).

Preference will be given to the placement of women with disabilities, particularly from the rural areas and self-employed disabled women . Women with disabilities are encouraged to send their nomination for the National Awards.

In 1969, the government approved a scheme for giving National Awards to the outstanding employers of persons with disabilities as well as the most outstanding employees. The scope of the scheme has been amended whenever required keeping in view the changing scenario.

The disabilities defined in the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, protection of Rights and full Participation) Act, 1995(No 1 of 1996) and the National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999(No 44 of 1999) are considered for giving the awards.

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