The discrimination towards people with disabilities must end and our responsibility is to treat them with respect, said Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, while inaugurating Talent Hunt, a camp to spot Under-17 para athletes.
The Governor said that people with special needs are endowed with divyang, the divine limbs and capabilities, as described by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. What they need is not our sympathy, support and encouragement but our belief in them. Our equal respect and dignified treatment.
Our responsibility is to end discrimination at all levels. Our bounden-duty is to create barrier-free and accessible structures. They must be given equal opportunities and equitable resources in all respects. Our children with special needs are endowed with immense capabilities and unlimited potential.
It is important to create the right environment to enable them realise their full potential and contribute their power to the nation’s progress, she said.
“I am proud to say that in Tokyo Olympics 2021, India stood at 48th position with 7 medals (1 gold, 2 silver, 4 bronze) whereas in the Paralympics, India had a historic performance, and stood at 24th position with 19 medals (5 gold, 8 silver, 6 bronze). Indian paralympians created history at Paralympics with a record-breaking 19 medals,” she added.
The camp was held by Aditya Mehta Foundation (AMF), in association with Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan from April 21 to 25 to spot talent among the Under-17 para athletes. The five-day camp will train the under-17 para athletes and prepare them to participate in the forthcoming national and international tournaments like Para Youth Asian Games and Youth- Paralympics.
This camp will have over 400 children from Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti Schools, and Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan. A Centre of Excellence is being established for children with special needs by Aditya Mehta Foundation in association with the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya. In all, 100 children selected from this camp will be trained for para-sports at the Aditya Mehta Foundation’s Infinity Para Sports Academy making them ready for the Youth Paralympics, Youth Asian Championship, Junior World Cup and Junior Nationals and many more national and international tournaments.
