Kerala has won the national award for ‘best state in promoting empowerment of persons with disabilities’ in the country for the year 2019.
In a press release on November 18, Health Minister K K Shailaja said that the national award is in recognition of the work done by the state for protecting the rights of differently-abled people and for empowering them. The award will be handed over by the President of India at Delhi Vigyan Bhavan on December 3, International Day of Persons With Disabilities.
The minister said that the award is in recognition of the innovative projects implemented by the present government for the welfare of the differently-abled. Although several institutions and individuals from Kerala have won similar awards before, this is the first time that Kerala is receiving the best state award, added the Minister.
Through the various organisations under the Social Justice Department, Kerala goverment has implemented various development programmes for differently-abled people. These organisations include the National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH), Kerala Social Security Mission, Kerala State Handicapped Persons Welfare Corporation and National Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (NIPMR), among others.
The state was evaluated on various programmes implemented for the welfare of the differently-abled community. These included the initial intervention carried by The District Early Intervention Centre in preventing development delays and disabilities, interventions carried out by Regional Early Intervention Centres through NISH and NIPMR, consolidated educational programs, ensuring education of all differently-abled children, educational scholarships for differently-abled children, job reservation, barrier-free Kerala program for easy commute and self-defence programs, among others.
