Tuesday, July 7, 2026
ADVT 
India

Disabled Have Divine Ability, Government Scheme In Guinness Records: Modi

Darpan News Desk IANS, 27 Dec, 2015 02:49 PM
    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said physically challenged people have a "divine ability" and urged people to change the way to address them.
     
    He also said the government's "Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme" has received a place in the Guinness World Records as the largest such scheme.
     
    The action plan of 'Start-up India, Stand-up India' will be launched on January 16, Modi said, as he greeted the nation on Christmas and New Year.
     
    Addressing the public in his last monthly radio address "Mann Ki Baat" for 2015, Modi said: "Start-up India, Stand-up India has brought new opportunity for the youth of our country. Be it manufacturing, service sector or agriculture, this new initiative will bring in new ideas, new ways, and new innovations." 
     
    "The action plan of 'Start-up India, Stand-up India' will be launched on January 16. A blueprint will be presented on that day," he said while extending his "greetings for Christmas and New Year to every citizen of India".
     
    Modi urged the public to change the way physically challenged people are addressed. 
     
    "We often address the physically challenged people as handicapped, disabled and specially-abled. But sometimes, when we get introduced to them, we get to know that they are endowed with 'extra power' which can't be seen with bare eyes," he said.
     
    "Then this idea came to my mind: why don't we use the term 'Divyang' (divine body) instead of 'Viklang' for the physically challenged people?"
     
     
    Modi said they are endowed with an ability which is divine. "Normal people like us are not gifted with such powers."
     
    On the government's "Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme", he said it has received a place in the record book as the largest direct benefit transfer scheme.
     
    "It gives me immense pleasure to announce that the Direct Benefit Transfer Scheme has recently found a place in the Guinness Book of World Records and it has been implemented successfully."
     
    As of now, already Rs.40,000 crore has been transferred to the accounts of the beneficiaries through different schemes, he said.
     
    "I believe about 35-40 schemes are being integrated with the direct benefit transfer scheme."
     
    Observing that there has been little discussion over fundamental duties in the country, Modi invited people's views on it by the Republic Day.
     
    "There is a lot of discussion on fundamental rights and there should be. But there is very little discussion on fundamental duties. Our Constitution gives importance to duties as well."
     
    He called on schools and colleges to hold essay-writing and poetry competitions on the topic "duties" before January 26. 
     
     
    Modi asked people to express their views on duties on the 'mygov.in' portal, so that he could learn what they think.
     
    He also said that before Republic Day, people should take on the task of cleaning up the statues of various personalities located in various cities, towns and villages.
     
    He also sought ideas from the youth about the 'National Youth Festival' that will commence on January 12, marking the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda.
     
    In his bid to reach out to the people, Modi invited people to connect with him by downloading the 'Narendra Modi App'.
     
    On cleanliness, he stressed the need to pay attention to tourist spots.
     
    "We must ensure cleanliness at tourist places," Modi said citing a letter by Ganesh V. Sawaleshwarkar from Pune.
     
    He said Ganesh raised a vital point on the importance of cleanliness at tourist places and pilgrimage sites.
     
    Modi welcomed Ganesh's suggestion, saying clean tourist spots will contribute to building a better image of India in the world. He said many foreigners come to visit the country during the festival season.

    MORE India ARTICLES

    Robert Vadra Hopes Enquiry Is Not For Political Vendetta

    Robert Vadra Hopes Enquiry Is Not For Political Vendetta
    Robert Vadra, son-in-law of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, said on Friday that he hoped the enquiry ordered against him over his land deals in Haryana will not be used for political vendetta.

    Robert Vadra Hopes Enquiry Is Not For Political Vendetta

    In A Landmark Judgment, Indian Supreme Court Prohibits Politicians' Photos On Government Ads

    A bench of Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghose however permitted the use of photographs of the president, prime minister, Chief Justice of India and departed leaders, including Father of the Nation, in such advertisements.

    In A Landmark Judgment, Indian Supreme Court Prohibits Politicians' Photos On Government Ads

    With NRI Help, Punjab Targets 1000 MW Solar Energy by 2017

    With NRI Help, Punjab Targets 1000 MW Solar Energy by 2017
    The minister inaugurated a 1 MW solar energy project set up by Britain-based NRIs Avtar Singh Kang and Raovarinder Singh Kang in their ancestral village Lallian Kalan in Jalandhar district with an investment of Rs.7.25 crore.

    With NRI Help, Punjab Targets 1000 MW Solar Energy by 2017

    Land Bill Sent To Select Panel; Rahul Says Government Murdered UPA Act

    Land Bill Sent To Select Panel; Rahul Says Government Murdered UPA Act
    The Lok Sabha on Tuesday referred the land acquisition bill to a joint committee of the two houses after an spirited debate in which Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi accused the NDA government of "murdering" the legislation passed by the previous UPA regime.

    Land Bill Sent To Select Panel; Rahul Says Government Murdered UPA Act

    Modi Seeks To Improve Relations With Pakistan Via Cricket

    Modi Seeks To Improve Relations With Pakistan Via Cricket
    Despite apprehensions raised by some BJP MPs about a proposed India-Pakistan cricket series, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is determined to break the ice with the neighbouring country through "cricket diplomacy", informed sources here said.

    Modi Seeks To Improve Relations With Pakistan Via Cricket

    Dawood In Pakistan, We'll Get Him, Says Rajnath Singh

    Dawood In Pakistan, We'll Get Him, Says Rajnath Singh
    India has credible information that underworld don Dawood Ibrahim is in Pakistan and we will not rest till he is brought back, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said on Monday. But Pakistan denied the fugitive is present there.

    Dawood In Pakistan, We'll Get Him, Says Rajnath Singh