With a view to mainstreaming persons with disabilities (PwDs) across the employment spectrum, the 19th edition of the East Zone Regional Abilympics will be held on 9 and 10 August 2019 at the Indian Institute of Training & Development, Srijani Road, Thakurpukur, Kolkata. The event is being hosted by the National Abilympics Association of India (NAAI), under the aegis of Sarthak Educational Trust, with support from The Hans Foundation. It will include skill competitions, job fairs for PwDs, and discussions on ensuring dignity and inclusion for persons with disabilities.
The Abilympics initiative has reached over 1,000 PwDs across the North, West, and South zones in less than two months, promoting skill development and employment opportunities.
The competition covers 10 vocational skills, including CAD Architecture, Desktop Publishing, Character Designing, e-sports, tailoring, floral arrangement, beauty therapy, jewellery making, bakery, and cooking. A key highlight is a job fair where more than 25 companies will conduct recruitment drives for PwDs.
Candidates aged 18 to 35 from Eastern and Northeastern states, including West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, and Tripura, can apply for participation. The winners of the National Abilympics will represent India at the International Abilympics to be held in Russia in 2020.
Speaking about the event, Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Founder & CEO of Sarthak Educational Trust, said the aim is to provide vocational skills to persons with disabilities to improve employment opportunities. He noted that unemployment among PwDs is over 63% and emphasised the need for greater inclusion in the workforce.
Dr. Aggarwal, a former dentist, lost central vision in both eyes due to macular degeneration but went on to establish Sarthak Educational Trust in 2008. The organisation has since trained and placed over 16,000 PwDs across sectors through its centres in India.
Mr. Krishan Kalra, President of NAAI, said that millions of persons with disabilities in India are seeking jobs and empowerment rather than charity, and highlighted the importance of inclusion.
The Kolkata event will also feature a regional conference on “Corporate Progression towards Inclusion and Diversity”, bringing together corporates, CSR heads, government officials, and NGOs to discuss sustainable empowerment of PwDs.
