Padma Shri awardee and veteran social worker Kanubhai Hasmukhbhai Tailor on Thursday, 17 September extended birthday greetings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, crediting the PM's governance approach with transforming the outlook on disability welfare in India — from charity-based assistance to skills-led self-reliance.

A Shift in Policy Thinking

The 72-year-old Surat-based activist, who has spent decades working with specially-abled communities, said that prior to Modi's tenure, government and social support for disabled individuals was largely confined to food and financial handouts. He argued that the current approach has fundamentally reoriented the system toward employment and skill-building.

'The idea should not be merely to give a disabled person a rotla (bread), but to teach them how to make roti or bhakri so that they can earn a livelihood and support themselves and their families,' Tailor said. He noted that this philosophy has visibly improved the self-confidence and social standing of disabled persons.

From Burden to Breadwinner

Tailor pointed to a generational shift in how disabled individuals are perceived within families and communities. In the past, a disabled child was often viewed as helpless or a financial burden. Today, he observed, persons with disabilities who earn through formal employment or self-employment are actively contributing to household income — a marker of restored dignity and respect.

He stressed that disabled people should not be reduced to begging on footpaths or living at railway stations, but should instead be enabled to lead lives of independence and self-worth.

Bharuch Old-Age Home: Nearly Complete

Tailor also provided an update on a dedicated old-age home for disabled persons being constructed in Bharuch, Gujarat. Approximately ₹28 crore has been spent on the project so far, with around five per cent of construction work still remaining. The foundation stone was laid by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, and Tailor expressed hope that PM Modi himself would inaugurate the facility.

The centre is envisioned as a space where elderly disabled individuals can live with dignity and access essential services. There are also plans to extend government assistance to approximately 200 disabled persons through associated programmes.

Birthday Celebrations and Wheelchair Distribution

To mark the Prime Minister's birthday, Tailor's organisation distributed wheelchairs to 76 disabled individuals. His school also provided meals to children on the occasion, and several community events were organised in celebration.

Personal Tribute from a Non-Political Voice

Tailor, who described himself as holding no political affiliation, said that in his 72 years, he has not encountered a person as dedicated to public service as PM Modi. Reflecting on Modi's long journey — from Chief Minister of Gujarat to Prime Minister — he described the evolution in disability welfare policy as among the most meaningful shifts of that tenure.

He called on society at large to cultivate a mindset that fosters respect and self-confidence among disabled people, emphasising that making them capable, contributing members of society — rather than objects of pity — must remain an ongoing national commitment.