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Employment > Awards > N.C.P.E.D.P. - Shell Helen Keller Awards 2002

Damodar Thanvi: Changing mindsets through policy

Thanvi's acute sensitivity, combined with abiding determination, has ushered in an era of greater opportunities for thousands of disabled persons in the State of Rajasthan.

Rajasthan is being swept by a modern-day revolution that has been scripted by Damodar Thanvi, Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of Rajasthan.

Thanvi is part of that rare breed of persons who can be known best through their achievements.

Students with disabilities in Rajasthan now receive free education up to 12th standard. Almost 25,000 students benefit each year from the scholarship instituted for students with disabilities. For the first time, students with visual, speech and hearing impairment have been admitted to B.Ed. courses. Those unable to write have been provided scribes. All educational institutions, including rural ones, have been instructed to construct ramps and a minimum reservation of three per cent has been instituted in government and government aided educational institutes.

A three per cent employment reservation has been implemented in government services and rural development schemes such as Indira Aawas Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Gramodaya Yojna, etc. Loans worth Rupees 50,000,000 have already been disbursed through N.H.F.D.C. to about 900 disabled persons. Ten per cent of the kiosks being constructed under the Chief Minister’s Employment Scheme have been reserved for persons with disability. Disabled people have been exempted from service tax, a first in India.

Under Thanvi’s direction, government orders in Rajasthan make it compulsory for all new government buildings to construct ramps. The administration now provides doorstep facilities such as free medical check-ups, issuance of disability certificates, etc.

Damodar Thanvi is not through with his agenda of empowering persons with disability yet. Above all, he wants to create an atmosphere of respect, empathy and honour for persons with disability.

Commissioner (Disabilities)
Government of Rajasthan
Ambedkar Bhawan
Behind Pant Krishi Bhawan
Bhagwan Dass Road
Jaipur- 302 005
Rajasthan
Phone: (0141) 2382497

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