National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities 2019
Vice President of India M. Venkiah Naidu conferred ‘National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities 2019’ at a function organized by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment to celebrate ‘International Day of Persons with Disabilities’ celebrated on 3 December 2019 in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. Vice President was the Chief Guest of the function while Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot presided over the function.
About National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities 2019
The award was conferred on Institutions, Individuals, Organizations and State/District etc. for their outstanding achievements and work done every year towards empowerment of Persons with Disabilities or Divyangjan (PwDs).
Till 2017, the Scheme of Award was governed under National Awards Rules, 2013 which provided 7 categories of disabilities according to Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. However, when Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 came into force w.e.f. 19 April 2017, the number of specified disabilities increased from 7 to 21 under new Law. Accordingly all 21 disabilities were included under National Award Guidelines.
National Selection Committee under Chairpersonship of Union Minister, Social Justice & Empowerment in its meeting held on 6 November 2019 considered recommendation of Screening Committees and approved all 65 awards in 14 categories.
