Divyang socio-economic development: A prime focus area in Atmanirbhar Bharat mission

Technology and core competence of North East's resources and diversity can propel 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' for the well being
Divyang socio-economic development: A prime focus area in Atmanirbhar Bharat mission

GUWAHATI: Technology and core competence of North East's resources and diversity can propel 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' for the well being of the 'Divyangs (Specially-enabled people), opined experts in a webinar entitled '150 years of Celebrating Mahatma — Propelling Atma Nirbhar Bharat for the socio-economic development of Divyangs' organized by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Guwahati on Monday. Experts from the industry and the government sector along with academicians deliberated on the topic from the multi-sectoral and policy perspectives.

The webinar witnessed enthusiastic participation from leading entrepreneurs of Assam and the North East Region (NER). They said that there are tremendous opportunities for the Divyangs in various business and market related sectors. They especially referred to entrepreneurship as a vital sector for them, adding that the Central government's initiatives are a 'WIN-WIN' scenario with value addition in the business ecosystem.

Mentioning about Central government's initiative with examples from the North East and its challenges, Padma Shri Uddhab Kumar Bharali said that the 150th year celebration of Mahatma Gandhi adds extra responsibility on all citizens of India to work for the holistic development of all sections of society. Bharali — from the Lakhimpur district of Assam — said that technology and creativity play are important to usher in the socio-economic development of the 'Divyangs'. Creative utilisation of technology such as machines to feed the disabled, slippers for knees, cleaners, and de-weeders for amputees, variety of peeler machines to peel betel nut, garlic, jatropha, coconut and safed musli are ways to empower the 'Divyangs' so that they are 'Atma Nirbhar' (self dependent) in their working. He also said that the 'First-Mover Advantage of Technology' for North East is telling the story of the 'Empowerment for the Divyangs'.

In the discussion, Padma Shri Naresh Chander Lal said that the initiatives of the Central government are encouraging the process to usher in socio-economic development of the Divyangs. He stressed on the need to encourage entrepreneurship and knowledge among the 'Divyangjan' community, generate awareness about them in the society about the potentialities of the Divyangs and provide marketing opportunity to the Divyang entrepreneurs. He added that the Divyang artisans and entrepreneurs are playing a vital role in development of the country.

Prof. (Dr.) Kishor Goswami, Professor of Economics, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kharagpur delved into the need for utilisation of technology for the development and well being of the Divyangs. He said that technology has to be low cost and cost effective for the maximum utility of the technology. Appreciating the efforts in the endeavours of the Central government, Prof Goswami said that utilisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the latest technology could be game changer for the economic and social development of the Divyangs. He elaborated that devices for the Divyangs have to be dovetailed for the local environment and have to be eco-friendly and should be easily accessible to the common people.

The MD and the Director of JIS Group, Taranjit Singh and Amit Srivastav respectively, pointed out that that there is huge potential for the Divyangs in the Central government programmes like the 'Start-ups' and 'Stand up India', stated a release.

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