Lamenting the fact that the duties, principles and attachment towards the society are on the decline, AYUSH Minister Shripad Naik termed 'handicap' as a God-given challenge before humankind.
Addressing a gathering of 'Gomant Goa Rashtriya Puraskar 2015' award-winning personalities from Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala and other parts of the country at the felicitation function organised by Karad (Maharashtra) based 'Martyrs and Handicapped Multipurpose Development Welfare Saunstha' (Hutatma Apang Bahuuddheshiy Vikas Kalyanwadi Saunstha) at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao on Sunday, Naik said the feeling of contributing one's bit towards society's welfare has to be ingrained in each one.
“We have created challenges before the society. Reduction in one's self-centredness to some extent and inculcating the feeling of sacrifice is important,” Naik told the gathering, while making an earnest plea for upholding the thought of contributing towards the welfare of the handicapped and society at large.
Lauding the efforts of the president of the Saunstha, Sunil Phadtare, who is visually-challenged himself, the Minister said Phadtare's efforts have surmounted the work undertaken by the government and social institutions in service of the handicapped in society.
“Phadtare himself has worked for all-round development of the handicapped by organising free medical camps, creating employment opportunities for the handicapped, and holding sports activities, cultural programmes, creating infomation about government schemes for the handicapped, etc,” said Naik.
“At a time when the society has increasingly turned materialistic, societal tendencies have also gravitated towards the mindest of the government as the saviour and the ultimate giver of everything,” emphasised Naik.
Four Goan personalities --- Shivnath Gawas (Ponda), Prashant Naik (social worker, Ponda), Jayendranath Haldankar (dramatist, Tiswadi) Sandeep Hirve --- were also felicitated on this occasion.
Others who spoke at the function included Gaurav Naikwadi, Kishor Bhandari, Sunil Phadtare and Rajesh Laud.
