~It is with great pleasure that I extend a warm welcome to you all, particularly to our friends from overseas. Over the next few days you will all be participating in various events of the International Abilympics. You will display your diverse skills and capabilities. You shall be winning gold, silver and bronze medals for yourselves and for your respective countries. And we will have the privilege of seeing the power of your determination, the strength of your spirit and the rewards of your perseverance.

Once again, your performances will impart a new meaning to the words ~I can and I will~.

I am happy that, over the next few days, over 1500 participants from around the world will learn from each other, get to know each other and in general establish bonds of friendship. These bonds will also help in fostering better relations between countries.

Today I recall how deeply I was touched and impressed by what I saw at the first National Abilympics, which I had the pleasure of inaugurating at this very stadium last year in November. I had congratulated the Ministries of Social Justice & Empowerment, Human Resource Development, the Delhi Government, as well as the National Abilympics Association of India for their initiative in organizing the 6th International Abilympics in India. I am glad that their hard work of the past three years has come to fruition. The moment of pride and happiness is here.

I had promised then and I am reiterating once again, our Government’s firm commitment and support to all endeavors, which will enable our disabled brethren to live with dignity, equality and justice.

It is rightly said that the people who are called ~disabled~, are not really disabled but only ~differently abled~. They have amazing potentialities, which often remain latent, undeveloped and unrecognized. But throughout history, and in all societies, there are examples of disabled persons having shown exceptional abilities and achieved outstanding successes.

Franklin Roosevelt, who was elected president of the United States of America four times, suffered from polio. David Blunkett, who is Britain’s Home Secretary now, is blind. Thomas Edison, the great inventor of electric bulb, was deaf and had learning disability. And then we have the example of Stephen Hawking, the wheelchair-bound physicist, who is acclaimed as one of the greatest scientists of our time.

It is the moral duty of society to acknowledge and identify the different abilities of the disabled, and also to create such conditions as would enable them to develop their potentialities to the fullest. Since their vocational, artistic and sports skills mostly go unnoticed, it is necessary to provide visibility and recognition to them. In this endeavour, national and international events like Abilympics have been making a significant contribution.

Friends, this event, together with the observance of International Day of Disabled in less than a fortnight from now – December 3rd, to be precise – provides the right occasion for us to reflect on the condition of the disabled population in the world. Of the five hundred million disabled people in the world, nearly four-fifths live in developing countries. And within developing countries, many of them are victims of grinding poverty, social isolation and despair. This clearly shows that the problems of disabled people must be given centrality in our development strategies – both internationally and within our own respective countries.

We in India fully recognize our responsibility in addressing these problems, cognizant of the fact that an unacceptably large number of our population suffers from different kinds of disabilities. India has enacted legislation to protect the rights of the disabled. We are taking steps for its effective implementation.

However, as in other countries, governmental action alone cannot meet the demands of the situation. Working for the welfare and empowerment of disabled people requires enormous sensitivity, patience and commitment. We have a large number of service-oriented organisations that exhibit these qualities in their silent but noble work. Today I would like to sincerely applaud all of them. I would like the closest possible partnership to be forged between governmental agencies and all such organizations in the voluntary sector.

But beyond the work of governmental agencies and voluntary organizations, there is also a need to spread awareness in society. Prejudice and apathy towards the disabled must be countered. All societies have their own fine traditions of care and compassion for the needy and the marginalized. We must preserve and further promote these traditions.

An area that demands our special and sustained attention is skill-development and employment opportunities for the disabled. The amazing vocational skills on display at the Abilympics are an ample proof of what can be achieved for their economic empowerment. What we need is multi-sectoral involvement of governmental bodies, businesses in the private sector, vocational education institutes, and banks and financial institutions. We also need to increase the utilization of technological resources available to expand the scope of appropriate training and enhancement of skills, which would in turn open up job opportunities for them.

In fact, the Indian Army established the first full-fledged artificial limbs manufacturing center shortly after the end of World War II. Today, there are several such centers both in the government and non-governmental sectors providing aids and appliances to those in need. These institutions have also encouraged research into developing latest lightweight and sturdy materials to make artificial limbs and assistive devices. Our Respected President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam has provided farsighted leadership to this scientific and technological endeavour.

Speaking of the rapid technological advances that we are witnessing today, it would perhaps be pertinent to urge the scientific community to devote more attention to genome research in order to promote early detection of congenital abnormalities and to help develop appropriate interventions.

Before concluding, I have a special word of appreciation for all the participating teams from abroad. I know that it has not been easy for you to travel long distances to take part in this event. You have made the effort and I hope that you will find it worthwhile. For us, in India, it is an honour to welcome you all. I do hope that during your stay, you will get an opportunity to visit many interesting places and to savour the hospitality of our people.

With these words, I have great pleasure in inaugurating the 6th International Abilympics.

Thank you.~