Sri Vijaya Puram, June 16: The Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services has informed residents and organisations across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands that nominations and applications are now being accepted for the National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, 2026.
Instituted by the Government of India, the awards are presented annually to recognise outstanding contributions towards the empowerment, inclusion and welfare of persons with disabilities. The honours acknowledge exemplary efforts by individuals, institutions, organisations and stakeholders working to improve accessibility, opportunities and quality of life for persons with disabilities.
According to the notification, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has opened the online nomination process through the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal.
The application window commenced on May 15 and will remain open until July 15, providing eligible applicants a two-month period to submit their nominations.
Officials have encouraged individuals, institutions, voluntary organisations, educational establishments, employers and other stakeholders engaged in disability empowerment initiatives to participate in the selection process. The awards are regarded as among the highest forms of national recognition in the field of disability inclusion and rehabilitation.
Over the years, the awards have recognised achievements across a wide spectrum of categories, including innovation, employment generation, education, accessibility, social empowerment and community service. The initiative seeks to highlight best practices and encourage greater participation in creating an inclusive society.
The administration believes that recognition through such national awards can help showcase successful models of empowerment while inspiring wider adoption of inclusive policies and programmes across the country.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have witnessed increasing efforts in recent years to improve accessibility and welfare measures for persons with disabilities through various government schemes and support services. Officials noted that individuals and organisations from the Union Territory who have made notable contributions in this field should consider submitting their nominations.
Detailed eligibility conditions, application procedures and category-wise guidelines are available on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal and the website of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities.
Authorities have advised interested applicants not to wait until the final date and to complete the online submission process well before the deadline to avoid last-minute technical issues.
The invitation provides an opportunity for deserving individuals and institutions from the islands to gain national recognition for their efforts in advancing the rights, welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities. Successful nominations would not only highlight individual achievements but also bring attention to the ongoing work being carried out in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to create a more inclusive and accessible society.
