Disability no barrier to talent: CM
› Nazar se mahatvapurna hai nazaria. A positive point of view will take you further in life, even if you don’t have sight.
› YOGI ADITYANATH, chief minister We must keep moving forward in life despite all difficulties. RAM NAIK, governor
LUCKNOW: “Disability is not a barrier to the talent of a person. Talent only needs a platform to have wings,” said chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday during his address at the fourth convocation of Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University in Lucknow (DSMNRU).
The CM praised the efforts of the students who overcame their disabilities and excelled in their examination.
To motivate them, he cited the examples of British physicist Stephen Hawking who passed away after a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), amputee mountaineer Arunima Singh and IAS officer Suhas LY who won a gold medal at the Para-Badminton Championship in Beijing in 2016.
Established in 2008, DSMNRU is the only rehab university in the county where 50% seats in all streams are reserved for students with disabilities.
This was the first time the chief minister graced the convocation ceremony of the rehab university.
“By reserving a fixed number of seats for special students, the university provides the right platform for such students to learn and excel in life,” said the CM.
“Nazar se mahatvapurna hai nazaria (a positive point of view is more important than having sight). A positive point of view will take you further in life, even if you don’t have sight,” emphasised the CM.
Before concluding his speech, Yogi Adityanath reaffirmed that his government would take all measures to provide enough facilities for people with disabilities.
Speaking before the chief minister, Padma awardee Dr Uma Tuli also commended the working of the rehab university.
“Inclusive education, where both normal and special students study together, helps in building a better society where normal people understand the needs of those with physical disabilities,” Tuli said suggesting that the university must start a research project on the efficacy of inclusive education.
Tuli also suggested to start a school on the university campus for primary and secondary education where students with disabilities may study with normal students.
The convocation ceremony concluded with the speech of UP governor Ram Naik. “We must keep moving forward in life despite all difficulties,” the governor said.
Lauding the performance of female students, the governor said, “It is a good sign for our society that female students are doing well in competition.”
He went on to link this success with programmes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan started by the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government and ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ scheme announced by the Narendra Modi government.
UP minister OP Rajbhar also spoke at the function.