Gorakhpur, Feb 3 (Reporter) Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said on Saturday that differently abled people have boundless inherent talent, and society and the government must encourage and support them as they rightfully expect it from both entities. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the state-level three-day Divine Arts and Skills exhibition organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities at Yogiraj Baba Gambhirnath Auditorium, the CM said, "With this spirit, under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the double-engine government is becoming a support for the differently abled and taking them on the path of respect and self-reliance." Boosting the self-confidence of the differently abled, he said, "If an individual grapples with a particular deficiency, it's noteworthy that God often provides compensatory gifts. The sagacious Maharishi Ashtavakra, a guiding light through the Upanishads, the illustrious poet Surdas, who beautifully depicted the Leelas of Lord Krishna in medieval verses, and contemporaneously, figures like Jagadguru Rambhadracharya and the renowned scientist Stephen Hawking stand as compelling testimony to this phenomenon." Yogi said that through the exhibition, he got an opportunity to see the talent of the disabled people more closely. "Probably this is the first state in the country where two universities, including Dr Shakuntala Mishra Rehabilitation University Lucknow and Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Divyang University Chitrakoot, are running at the government level. Many such works have been started at the government level, which will empower the differently abled," he said. Referring to his visits to the schools for the Deaf and Dumb in Gorakhpur and for the visually impaired, he said that he often visits and inspects institutions dedicated to the well-being of the differently abled in order to improve the infrastructure in these institutions, overcome the shortage of teachers, and connect them with technology. The CM said that at present, 10.40 lakh differently abled people in UP are being given a monthly pension of Rs 1,000. He pointed out that the government increased the pension amount from Rs 300 to Rs 1,000 and plans to increase it even further in the near future. He said that directives have been given to run a campaign to ensure that no disabled person is deprived of a ration card, housing, a pension, and education. "In addition, motorised tricycles will be provided to all school going disabled persons," he said. Yogi said that at present more than 11,000 lepers in the state are receiving a monthly pension of Rs 3,000. "Directives have been given to compulsorily provide housing facilities to such people under the CM housing scheme. Besides, 15.53 lakh differently abled people are covered under the Ayushman Yojana," he said. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has deliberately removed the word handicapped and given the word ‘Divyangjan’ to describe the differently abled because God has bestowed on them a special power. On this occasion, the CM also congratulated everyone on the consecration ceremony of Lord Shri Ram Lalla in his grand temple in Ayodhya. The CM also distributed 100 tricycles and 30 motorised tricycles, along with assistive devices such as crutches, hearing aids, and smart canes, to the differently abled on the occasion. He also visited the stalls at the Divine Art and Skills Exhibition to have a look at the excellent products and artefacts made by the differently abled persons from different districts of the state. He also interacted with some of them, who could hear and speak. Yogi Adityanath also felicitated Gold Medallist in Badminton at Deaflympics Brazil Aditya Yadav, Deaf Cricket national team player Akash Saini, Judo national player and Gold Medalist Rati Mishra and State Award winner Mansi Gupta in painting as disabled icons. He also felicitated differently abled Kaun Banega Crorepati winner Himani Bundela and National Judo Championship gold medalist Anita Gautam. On this occasion, the students of Touch and Blind School welcomed the CM with a wonderful musical presentation. During his tour of the exhibition, at one of the stalls, a visually impaired Muslim youth named Alam recited a chaupai from Shri Ram Charit Manas, which made him emotional. The CM praised him and congratulated him...////...