The Hindu : Focus on the differently-abled

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 25, 2003

National

National

Focus on the differently-abled

By Anita Joshua

NEW DELHI NOV. 24. The special needs of the differently-abled was in focus here today, at the Sixth International Abylimpics, with the Prime Minister underlining the need to factor them into development strategies both at the international and domestic level.

Inaugurating the week-long event under the gaze of the Abylimpics' Ganesh-inspired logo and before a gathering that included people with special needs, Atal Bihari Vajpayee said that society ought to give up its prejudices with regard to the differently-abled, in order to make governmental and voluntary efforts to mainstream them successful.

"Prejudice and apathy towards the disabled must be countered. All societies have fine traditions of care and compassion for the needy and the marginalised. We must preserve and further promote these traditions," he said.

Mr. Vajpayee stressed the need to pay special attention to skill-development and creating employment opportunities for the disabled. "What we need is multi-sectoral involvement of governmental bodies, businesses in the private sector, vocational education institutes, and banks and financial institutions."

Representatives from 32 countries are participating in the Abilympics.

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