“When Equal Opportunities Are Provided, Talent Knows No Boundaries”: Dr Virendra Kumar, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Calls Divya Kala Mela a Movement for Self-Reliance and Inclusive Nation-Building

The Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr Virendra Kumar, inaugurated the 31st Divya Kala Mela in Kolkata (14‑22 July 2026), marking the first joint Centre‑State effort to provide a national platform for Divyang artisans and entrepreneurs. Since 2014, the Ministry has extended financial assistance of about ₹1,462 crore to roughly 1.82 lakh beneficiaries to promote self‑employment. The event highlighted the NAMASTE Scheme, reporting validation of 89,915 sewer and septic‑tank workers and 2,81,117 waste pickers, distribution of 87,037 and 1,84,118 PPE kits respectively, and issuance of health cards to tens of thousands. The National Overseas Scholarship Scheme selects 20 students with disabilities annually for overseas higher education. The Minister emphasized a shift from a welfare‑based model to a rights‑based empowerment framework for persons with disabilities.