President Droupadi Murmu Visits Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities

New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu paid a visit to the Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities, under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities. The visit aimed to emphasize the government’s commitment to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities.

During her visit, President Murmu met with children with disabilities, paid tribute to the statue of Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya, and planted a tree in the institute’s garden. The event was attended by Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B.L. Verma, and Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Rajesh Aggarwal.

President Murmu toured the institute, inspecting the Prosthetics and Orthotics (P&O) workshop, where she learned about the advanced technology used in manufacturing artificial limbs. She also visited the Cross Disability Early Intervention Center and interacted with the children receiving treatment.

In her address, President Murmu praised the government’s efforts under the Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan to improve the lives of persons with disabilities. She highlighted the significance of the Unique Disability ID (UDID) card, which enables disabled individuals to benefit from various government schemes. Commending the institute’s work, she acknowledged the effective therapies and educational programs that empower individuals with disabilities.

“Our disabled brothers and sisters are in no way inferior to others. Societal inclusivity and sensitivity can eliminate barriers,” President Murmu stated. She congratulated the institute’s staff for their outstanding work in transforming the lives of disabled individuals, referring to them as facilitators of accessibility rather than mere service providers.

Union Minister Dr. Virendra Kumar reiterated the department’s commitment to empowering and making persons with disabilities self-reliant. He praised the national institutes for their excellent work in caring for disabled children and providing them with assistive devices. Dr. Kumar reaffirmed the government’s goal of integrating disabled individuals into the mainstream through self-reliance and skill development programs and expressed gratitude for President Murmu’s guidance in their endeavors.

The event also featured a cultural program presented by the institute’s students and children with disabilities.