Now, disability department to be known as 'divyang' and not 'viklang'

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities will now be known as 'Divyangjan' Sashaktikaran Vibhag in Hindi, dropping the word 'viklangjan' from its previous nomenclature.

The development comes nearly five months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his radio address 'Mann Ki Baat' on December 27, last year, had said physically challenged people have a "divine ability" and the term "divyang" should be used in place of "viklang" for them.

The Centre had proposed the change in name of the department by amending the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961.

Now, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities ('Viklangjan' Sashaktikaran Vibhag) will be Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities ('Divyangjan' Sashaktikaran Vibhag), according to an order issued by Cabinet Secretariat.

President Pranab Mukherjee has given approval to the new nomenclature, it said.

The department, which works under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, facilitates empowerment of persons with disabilities.

As per the 2011 census, the differently abled constitute 2.21% of the total population of the country.