Union MoS for Social Justice BL Verma reaffirmed the government’s pledge on Sunday to mainstream persons with disabilities, crediting PM Modi’s visionary schemes for creating a strong support ecosystem.
Inaugurating the 30th Divya Kala Mela at Dehradun’s Rangers Ground, the minister revealed Rs 375 crore budget provision for ALIMCO to supply and install assistive devices, directly impacting countless lives.
DEPwD’s Pradeep A. outlined the event’s broad mandate: bridging disabled entrepreneurs to commerce, finance, and careers. Key features encompass aid registrations, info stalls, and employment expos.
Uttarakhand Governor Lt Gen Gurmit Singh highlighted AI and tech’s pivotal role in opening doors for the disabled. Insisting technology discriminates not, he called for exporting mela handicrafts globally to honor artisan skills internationally.
‘With grit and skill, excellence knows no bounds for the differently-abled,’ he noted, framing the mela as a beacon of motivation fueling India’s growth via disabled contributions.
Tehri MP Mala Rajya Lakshmi Shah deemed it a powerhouse for change beyond mere display, thanking the Centre and ministry for its national footprint in Uttarakhand. She invoked Paralympics glories to illustrate support’s power in fostering champions.
MLA Khajan Das commended the platform for dignity, opportunity, and confidence-building toward fuller inclusion.
Nationally, 29 editions engaged 2,362 entrepreneurs in Rs 23 crore+ business, backed by Rs 20 crore+ loans. Job melas drew 3,131 applicants, yielding 1,007 hires and 313+ offers, epitomizing commitment.