News

Volume 4 Issue 4 - February 15, 2006

National Seminar on Poverty and Disability

D.N.I.S. News Network - Poor people are more likely to become disabled because of their harsh and vulnerable living conditions and disabled people are more likely to get poorer because of lack of livelihood opportunities, Union Minister of State for Planning M. V. Rajasekharan said at a recent National Seminar on Poverty and Disability.

Parivaar, National Federation of Parents’ Associations for Persons with Mental Handicap, Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Multiple Disabilities, in collaboration with Inclusion International, organised a National Seminar for facilitating a discussion on the nature of links between poverty and disability and to address the issue in a holistic manner.

According to a media report, Rajasekharan while inaugurating the seminar announced that the Centre is planning to unveil a national policy for empowerment of disabled persons.

Stating that the state's efforts alone were not enough to uplift the disabled, he urged the non-governmental organisations to join hands with it in the endeavour and to strive for creating a barrier-free and rights-based society.

He also stated that the Union Government is committed to providing disabled children in the age group of 6-14 years free and compulsory education in mainstream schools.