New Delhi : The President of India, Smt Droupadi Murmu, presented the National Awards for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the year 2025 at a ceremony held in New Delhi on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December 2025. The day is celebrated as Purple Fest Day. The Purple Fest is set to be a vibrant celebration of creativity, talent, and empowerment of Divyangjan at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The festival features an Art & Craft Exhibition showcasing unique products created by Divyangjan, alongside a few Entrepreneurship Stalls that provide a platform for Divyangjan entrepreneurs to display their innovations. Cultural programmes and sports events were highlights of diversity, creativity, and active participation, while Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE) sessions will strengthen professional knowledge with a special focus on Indian Sign Language (ISL). More than just a festival, Purple Fest 2025 carries a powerful message: disability is not a weakness, assistive devices are not charity, and respect is not a favour—it is a right.
Addressing the gathering, the President emphasised that Divyangjan deserve equality and that their participation in the developmental journey of society and the nation is a duty of all stakeholders, not an act of charity. She observed that a society can be considered truly developed only when persons with disabilities can participate equally. Referring to this year’s theme, “Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress”, she said it reflects this progressive vision. She underlined that the theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities – 2025, ‘Fostering disability-inclusive societies for advancing social progress’, is also based on this progressive idea.
The President expressed satisfaction that India is moving beyond a welfare mindset and adopting a rights-based, dignity-focused approach for persons with disabilities. She noted that the inclusion of Divyangjan is an integral part of the country’s national development journey. The decision to use the term “Divyangjan” since 2015, she added, was taken to show special respect to people with disabilities.
Highlighting the government’s efforts, the President said that the ecosystem for inclusion and empowerment of Divyangjan is being strengthened through the establishment of national-level institutions in diverse fields such as sign language research and training, mental health rehabilitation, and sports training. She pointed out that millions of Divyangjan have been issued Unique Disability ID cards, enabling them to avail themselves of special facilities and benefits.
The President further stressed that, along with the government, society must also remain vigilant and active in safeguarding the interests of Divyangjan. She urged citizens to take responsibility for ensuring the dignity, self-reliance, and self-respect of persons with disabilities. Every citizen, she said, should pledge to make Divyangjan partners in their efforts for social and national progress.
The children with disabilities are seen gathering information at the stalls set up with the help of the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities at Purple Fest 2025. Various initiatives were launched on the occasion of Purple Fest 2025 at the main courtyard of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Hon’ble Union Minister and several senior officials from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities were present on the stage for the inauguration. Hon’ble President Smt Droupadi Murmu is being presented a replica of the gold medal by India’s first Paralympic gold medalist Shri Murlikant Petkar during Purple Fest 2025, among others, at Rashtrapati Bhavan
