Varanasi: Showcasing products and craftsmanship of entrepreneurs and artisans with disabilities, the 10-day Divya Kala Mela organized by the department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, began at the Town Hall, Maidagin, on Friday.The event was inaugurated by the Union minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, A Narayanaswamy. Around 100 disabled artisans and entrepreneurs from around 20 states and union territories are showcasing their products Like handicrafts, handlooms, embroidery works and packaged foods etc, which will also be available for sale.Apart from this, cultural programmes by well-known artists and famous food stalls from different states of the country are the special attractions of this fair. Selfie points are also put for the visitors. The Mela is proving to be a powerful medium to spread the concept of Vocal for Local to the masses.Speaking on the occasion, Narayanaswamy said that the central government has prepared several schemes to promote entrepreneurship and craftsmanship especially among the disabled. He said that these schemes are implemented to provide training, skills and finance to the disabled brothers and sisters. The central government has increased the categories of disabled people from 7 to 21. Along with this, he said that reservation for disabled people in government jobs has been increased from 3% to 4% and reservation in government educational institutions has been increased from 3% to 5%. The government is providing financial assistance to disabled people through various schemes at low interest rates to make them self-reliant. We are organizing the art fairs in every major cities of the country. Till now, a total of six fairs have been successfully completed. This is the seventh one, said the Deputy director general of the department, Kishor B Surwade. The loan approval letters were distributed to the disabled beneficiaries by Gramin Bank on the occasion. To encourage the disabled people, assistive devices were distributed in the form of tokens by ALIMCO, an organization of the Government of India. Earlier, the fair was organized in Delhi, Mumbai, Bhopal, Indore, Guwahati, and Jaipur. The department has selected National Disabled Finance and Development Corporation (NDFC) as the nodal agency for organizing this fair. The CMD of NDFDC, Naveen Shah said that Prime minister Narendra Modi changed the thinking of people in the society by giving the word Divyang dor disabled people for the first time. We also published the following articles recentlyMany avail of services at camps for people with disabilitiesSocial welfare minister Raaj Kumar Anand visited health camps in Northwest Delhi where thousands of people with disabilities received various services. These services included UIDAI cards, disability certificates, DTC passes, railway concession passes, loans, employment opportunities, assistive devices, and schemes offered by the department. Disability assessments were also conducted for different disabilities such as locomotor disability, muscular dystrophy, leprosy survivors, dwarfism, acid attack survivors, low vision, blindness, hearing impairment, and chronic neurological conditions.Parents worried as CBSE rejects disability assessment certificatesParents of children studying in CBSE schools in Kochi are rushing to General Hospital to obtain disability assessment certificates. These certificates ensure that students receive accommodations during board exams. However, CBSE has been rejecting certificates issued by private clinics, causing a crisis for schools and parents. To address the issue, the district administration and health department have organized special assessment camps in schools. The CBSE has extended the deadline for submission of applications to September 28. Psychologists and educators are calling for a more efficient system to ease the process.Athletes with disabilities feted in lift-less building: DRAGThe Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) and AAP have criticized the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) for hosting a felicitation ceremony for Special Olympics and Para Players in an inaccessible building. A wheelchair user and athlete, Lloyd Fernandes, was unable to access the venue due to the absence of a lift. Despite being aware of his situation, officials did not change the venue. DRAG and AAP are demanding that the ministers personally deliver the award to Fernandes at his home.

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