Governor Tamilisai salutes indomitable spirit of disabled

Raj Bhavan: The Governor, Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan, distributed wheelchairs, tri-cycles, hearing aids and other appliances to over 100 disabled persons and hosted a lunch on Tuesday. Several national awardees with disabilities participated in the programme and noted that it was for the first time that the disabled day celebrations were being held in Darbar Hall and this was a gift to them from the Governor.

An awardee of President of India and Assistant Government Pleader, Chandrasu Priya, who is visually impaired, said she had been practising law at the High Court for the last 18 years and that she never lost a single government case so far. She said the disabled women were braver and she argued her cases without having to read from official files. "Such is my memory," she asserted.

Arjuna Awardee (Badminton) Srinivasa Rao, who has lost two legs in an accident, Anjana Reddy, a recipient of President of India's award (Badminton), who has spinal cord injury, Aditya Mehta, an Asian Cycling Champion, and many others described how they overcame their disabilities and stood as role models for others.

Earlier, the schoolchildren from deaf and dumb, visually impaired sang the national song in sign language and presented various cultural programmes. Addressing the gathering, Governor, Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan said "I bow to your confidence, courage and ability to overcome the inability to stand as a role model in the society. I have no words to express. You have excelled with your performance."

The theme for this 2019 IDPD is 'Promoting the participation of persons with disabilities and their leadership,' which focuses on the empowerment of persons with disabilities for inclusive, equitable and sustainable development.

The Governor said the government would always be in the forefront to extend any kind of help they deserve, she added. She said she enjoyed every moment of the cultural events and congratulated the organisations who were supporting the disabled, more particularly those which were providing training in various cultural activities.