Quadriplegic wheelchair tennis player Harry Boniface Prabhu will lead a contingent of differently-abled people on a 5,000-km road expedition across the country, from Kanyakumari to Kashmir. The expedition will be flagged off from Kanyakumari in the second week of April.
“While on the one hand, we need to mainstream the differently-abled and create opportunities for them, on the other we need to be sensitive to their unique requirements. I am hoping that this mission will set the ground for some meaningful interventions in this space. As per the 2011 census, there are approximately 6.8 million people with disabilities in the country and only 3 per cent are gainfully employed,” Mr. Prabhu said.
The Padma Shri awardee added that he will be visiting about 10 cities where he is hoping to interact and exchange ideas as well as hold interactions with the differently-abled. The aim of the expedition, which will focus on interactions at designated spots, will be to promote and spread the use of sign language, sensitise people to the needs and requirements of the differently-abled, create a platform for the exchange of ideas and best practices between persons with disabilities, and to motivate and inspire them to explore their potential to the best of their abilities.
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It is part of the ‘Veer’ campaign that seeks to address challenges faced differently-abled people through inclusive education and employment, imparting skill training and development as well as introducing disabled-friendly technology. The main intention of the campaign is to impart vocational training to people with disabilities so that they can be made job-ready.