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India Autism Center partners with Jadavpur University to enlighten the young minds on advocacy for differently-abled people
- 80 students participated in the inter-collegiate debate to promote advocacy for differently abled people
- The objective of the debate was to enhance the intellectual and compassionate spirit among students for differently-abled people in the society
- The 2011 census reveals that India is home to 2.68 crore people who are differently-abled
Kolkata, August 30, 2019: India Autism Center (IAC) in association with Jadavpur University hosted an Inter-collegiate debate festival to promote advocacy for differently-abled people. It was an initiative to discuss various factors impacting the lives of the differently-abled wherein change in people’s attitude, acceptance and inclusion, equipping the differently-abled people with good quality education and employment opportunities would contribute to overall growth and development.
The debate was designed in oxford and parliamentary style. The topic of the debate was – inclusive community living pushes the differently-abled more towards institutionalized residency. The debate festival witnessed the eager participation of 80 students from 15 colleges, local, national and international. The grand finale was held between six teams.
The judges for the debate festival were Dr. Amrita Panda, Rehabilitation Psychologist, Dr. Amrita Roy Chowdhury, working on developing Community Rehabilitation Service System that supports adults with disability and their families, Mr. Samarjit Guha, Director of Operations at Future Hope and works with children, focussing on pastoral care in the homes. Mr. Arvind Sood mentor to India Autism Center, Mr. Suresh Somani, Chairman and Managing Director of India Autism Center and Mr. Saugat Upadhaya, Advisor to India Autism Center.
To strengthen youth’s involvement in societal issues and paving way for intellectual discussion on differently-abled people, Mr. Suresh Somani, Chairman and Managing Director of India Autism Center said that, “A society wherein diverse abilities is respected and complement each other, where dignity and purpose is something that not just a handful of people seek out for is a society that we all should put in our efforts to build.”
Commenting at the event, Dr. Amrita Panda, Rehabilitation Psychologist, said that, “We need more sensitization programs for the differently-abledpeople and an inclusive ecosystem to make them feel better around us. They need a conducive environment to nurture their unique talents and foray into the mainstream society.”
The 2011 census reveals that India is home to 2.6 crore differently-abled people including bodily and mental impairment. In an age where ‘inclusive development’ is being emphasized as the right path towards sustainable development, focussed initiatives for the welfare of differently-abled peopleare essential for socio-economic development of the country.
List of colleges that participated in the debate festival:
- St Xavier’s college
- Loreto College
- Presidency University
- Bethune College
- Department of Law, Calcutta University
- Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri College
- Heritage College
- Xavier’s University
- South Calcutta Law College
- Shri Shikshayatan College
- NRS Medical College
- Calcutta National Medical College
- King’s College, London
- Heritage Institute of Technology
- Dublin City University
It is noteworthy to mention here that India Autism Center (IAC), an initiative by Ratnabali Group, aspires to be the first of its kind development center in the world for individuals with autism under the leadership of Mr. Suresh Somani.The Center is coming up on a 52-acre land parcel at Sirakole on Diamond Harbour Road near Kolkata, India.
The Center will be equipped with residential, day-care and vocational training facilities for its residents and visiting students and aims to be completed by 2022. Equipped with a professional team and many other resources, India Autism Center aims to address each individual’s educational, emotional and social needs and assist them in reaching their full potential by teaching them essential skills needed to live a more independent life.
