Figure represents only a tiny fraction of group’s total population of 26.8 million

Only 4,018 people with disabilities have received both doses of COVID-19 vaccine till November 28, as per figures released by the Health Ministry during the ongoing session of Parliament. It added that as per the CoWIN portal, 8,390 people with disabilities received the first dose.

As per Census 2011, the differently abled population in India stands at 26.8 million.

Visually impaired Kiran Kumari to function as coordinator

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 6

A visually disabled assistant professor at Punjabi University will function as coordinator of its newly established Centre for Disability Studies here. The announcement was made during a district-level programme on December 3, the World Disability Day.

Punjabi University said the basic aim of the centre was to cater to the specific educational needs of persons with disabilities, visual impairment, physical disability, hearing impairment and others.

Born with visual impairment, N S Lakshmi has overcome her disability and has succeeded in life by proving her talent.

On International Day of Persons with Disabilities, AirAsia India on Friday introduced an in-flight safety manual in braille in collaboration with the Helen Keller Institute for the Deaf and Deafblind for the visually impaired passengers. Also, wheelchair assistance can now be pre-booked online on its website and app while getting a flight ticket, it said in a release.

Different types of wheelchair facilities are available to pre-book for persons with disabilities to access the ramp up to the ladder point or the aircraft door as well as to reach the cabin," it mentioned.

The day is observed to underline the necessity of an inclusive culture that embraces persons with disabilities so that they can equally participate and contribute in the society

Every year, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) is observed on 3 December to promote the rights of people with disabilities and to raise awareness around their well-being. More than 1 billion people globally live with some form of disability and in spite of multiple measures to create awareness around their issues, they are often overlooked during times of emergency.