Badhte Kadam marches to smart conclusion

9-year-old Vikram Bhattarai, felicitated along with Manish Dhakal and Bhupen Gurgain at the concluding function of the Badhte Kadam Campaign in Gangtok today, enjoys and photographs a cultural presentation by fellow differently-abled persons at MG Marg on Friday. Vikram won the National Child award for exceptional achievement on Children's Day earlier this year.

GANGTOK, 09 Dec: The flag-in ceremony of the Badhte Kadam 2011 campaign was held this afternoon at MG Marg. The campaign was organized by the Spastics Society of Sikkim in collaboration with the Sikkim Viklang Sahayata Samiti and National Association for the Blind, Sikkim unit, and was supported by Social Justice, Empowerment and Welfare Department and District Collectorates.

The campaign, which was flagged off by the Speaker, KT Gyaltsen on the occasion of the World Disability Day on 03 Dec from Gangtok, covered all the four districts creating awareness on disability and its related issues.
During the flag-in ceremony, differently-abled children, Manish Dhakal and Bhupen Gurgain and Vikram Bhattarai were also felicitated and honoured for their achievements in international and national competitions.
Health Minister, DN Takarpa, who was present as the chief guest, encouraged everyone to work together for the protection of the rights of differently-abled people and to ensure their education, employment, capacity building and recreation to provide them with a dignified life.
He mentioned that the state government has also been working hard for the welfare of the disabled in the state and has also made acts and laws for their welfare along with helping NGOs in the field by providing annual grants to them.
On the occasion, differently-abled persons also presented various cultural programmes, which were highly appreciated by the people.