• Differently abled Physicist Stephen Hawking said about Helen Keller, “She has taught us that even disability cannot become an obstacle in living life to the fullest.” 
• Many differently abled people including world famous physicist Stephen William Hawking, the first divyangjan to climb the Everest summit Arunima Sinha and IAS topper Ira Singhal have earned fame all over the world on the basis of their passion and with the help of society, family and government. 
• On seeing them, thousands and millions of divyangjan are inspired to achieve something.
• According to the 2011 census, the total population of India was 1.23 billion, out of whom more than 2.1 percent people were affected with some kind of disability. 

Categories of disabled people

• Among the 21 categories of disabled people, the major ones are mobility impairment, visual impairment, mental illness, speech and hearing impairment, learning impairment and multiple disabilities. 
• Among these, the percentage of people with visual impairment is the highest. People with mobility impairment come in second place. They are the ones who have to face the most discrimination in society. 
• Such disabled people in the country are victimized due to the inhumane behaviour of the society and keep struggling to survive.

Initiatives by the Government

• Skill Development Council and National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC): The aim of establishing this institution is to ensure that every single Divyangjan in the country should have work. 
• Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995: It envisages three percent reservation for disabled people in the identified posts in government establishments.
• Divyangjan Swavalamban Yojana: Under this scheme they are given loans up to Rs 50 lakh. This loan can be for any kind of enterprise and the interest rate is between five to nine percent. If they want a loan for studies, they can get an education loan at an interest rate of four percent. Loans are also given for building houses. T
• VNY:  This is a kind of Micro Finance Scheme, under which a loan of up to Rs 60,000 is given. 
• Divya Kala Mela: Under this scheme the products prepared by the Divyangjans are promoted by making them available in the market. 
• Do Boond Zindagi Ki campaign: The World Health Organization declared India a polio-free country a decade ago but to avoid any suspected case, many awareness programs are run on World Polio Day. Through this campaign many Governments saved a large number of children from the infection of infectious polio.
• Disability Certificate: With the help of this certificate, people of this category are able to get concessions in school and college fees and scholarships. 

• Unique Disability ID: The UDID has now become a very important ‘ID card‘ for Divyangjans. On the basis of this card, there is a provision to give them an education loan at lower rates for higher education. 

• Unemployment allowance is also provided to Divyangjans, the amount of which depends on the government provisions.
• Concessions for Travel: Divyangjans are also given concessions in government buses, for rail and air travel based on degree of disability.
• ADIP Scheme: The main objective is to provide assistance to needy disabled persons in purchasing durable, sophisticated, scientifically manufactured assistive devices and equipment. It is to increase their physical, social and psychological rehabilitation.
• Awards: The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities of the Government of India gives national awards to such Divyangjan and institutions, who have done special work in their respective field. These awards are given on 3rd December every year on the occasion of World Disability Day.

National Trust

• Established as a premier Institute of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the National Trust works for the welfare of persons with autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability and multiple disabilities. 
• Under this, many schemes are run for the disabled.
  • Disha: This is an early intervention and school readiness scheme for disabled children up to the age of 10 years and aims to provide treatment, training and support to family members for persons with four disabilities covered under the National Trust Act. 
  • Day Care Centre: This is a day care scheme whose main objective is to increase the range of opportunities available to persons with disabilities to enhance interpersonal and vocational skills. The centre provides day care facilities for at least 6 hours a day between 8 am and 6 pm.
  • SAMARTH (Respite homes): The objective of this scheme is to establish Samarth Kendras to provide group home facilities, where basic medical and quality care service is provided with the help of doctors.
  • Gharaunda (Group Home for Adults):  The objective of this scheme is to provide an assured home and minimum quality care services throughout life to a person with autism, cerebral palsy, mental retardation and multiple disabilities. It also includes providing assistance for vocational activities.
  • Niramaya (Health Insurance Scheme): The objective is to provide affordable health insurance to persons with disabilities covered under the National Trust Act. Under this, there is a provision for all enrolled beneficiaries to get health insurance cover of up to Rs 5 lakh.
  • Sahyogi (Caregiver Training Scheme): The scheme aims to set up skilled caregiver cells to provide adequate and nurturing care to persons with disabilities and their families. Under this, parents are provided training to take care of the disabled person at home. 
  • Prerna (Marketing Support): It aims to create viable and comprehensive channels for sale of products and services made by persons with disabilities. 
  • Sambhav (Aids and Assistive Devices):  This is a scheme to establish additional resource centres that aim to provide information and easy access to equipment, aids, software etc. for the betterment and empowerment of persons with disabilities. 
  • Badhte Kadam (Awareness and Community Connectivity): The scheme aims at community awareness, sensitisation, social integration and mainstreaming of persons with disabilities.