Raahgiri Day for disabled held

New Delhi, Feb 1 (IANS) The ministry of social justice and empowerment Sunday organised "Raahgiri day for persons with disabilities" here.

A first of its kind event was organised as a unique initiative at Connaught Place by the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities.

"Today`s event was an effort to create an inclusive environment by way of showcasing the diverse range of unique abilities of the differently-abled children/persons at the same time involving all the people witnessing the events. This event was organised keeping in mind the spirit of the prime minister's initiative 'sabka saath sabka vikas' which includes persons with disabilities," said a press statement.

Around 10,000 people, including about 1,000 persons with disabilities, congregated to participate and witness events like wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, cricket by blind students, tandem cycling by blind students, street plays by students with different types of disabilities, prayer for peace for all through group songs by mentally handicapped and autistic children and cultural performances like singing, and dancing skits.

Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chandra Gehlot and Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Krishan Pal Gurjar were present at the event.

Raahgiri Day provides citizens with an opportunity to reclaim their streets, connect with their community, celebrate their city and, therefore, reclaim their lives.

The statement said it was indeed a path-breaking and colourful event of social inclusion with such large participation by persons with disabilities at such a historic location.

It added that the department, in collaboration with the state government, will soon be organising similar Raahgiri events for persons with disabilities in major metro cities like Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Mumbai.

According to census 2011, there are 26.8 million persons with disabilities in India.