
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi who recently interacted with the Indian contingent at the Tokyo Paralympians lauded each one of them for overcoming adversities.
The video of PM Modi’s interaction was released on his Twitter handle today.
An interaction with our champions, who brought back pride and glory from Tokyo! Watch the interesting interaction with our para-athletes at 11 AM tomorrow, 12th September. pic.twitter.com/1H47I0ZFKq
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 11, 2021
In one of the video, Para-shooter Deepak called PM Modi as an inspiration and said that he respects him. He was also grateful to PM Modi and said that PM’s move to call the specially abled ‘Divyang’ has helped change public perception about persons with disabilities.
Ekta Bhyan said that earlier people thought para-athletes are inferior but now the mentality has changed.
Patting their back for marvellous show at Tokyo Paralympics, PM Modi told them that the nation is proud of their achievements.
Paralympians, overwhelmed at the grand reception by PM Modi, thanked him for coining the Divyang word.
They said they feel more proud and confident than ever because of govt’s direct outreach to players and its readiness to help them in need.
What PM Modi suggested Five years ago
In 2015, PM Narendra Modi in his Mann Ki Baat had suggested people to use ‘divyang’ (divine body) instead of ‘viklang’ for persons with disability.
PM Modi said that using the word ‘viklaang,’ instead of ‘divyaang’ will help them grow.
“We see a person’s disability with our eyes. But our interaction tells us the person has an extra power. Then I thought, in our country, instead of using the word ‘viklaang,’ we should use the term ‘divyaang’, PM Modi had said in 2015.