Maharashtra Governor Launches India’s Campaign for International Abilympics Finland 2027
By Suman Munshi
Mumbai, July 3, 2026: Maharashtra Governor Shri Jishnu Dev Varma formally launched India’s journey towards the 11th International Abilympics Finland 2027 during the 18th Foundation Day celebrations of Sarthak Educational Trust and the Pre-International Assessments held at the World Trade Center in Mumbai. The event marked the beginning of India’s preparations to send its largest-ever contingent to the global Work Skill Olympics for Persons with Disabilities.
Organised jointly by Sarthak Educational Trust and the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI), the programme brought together representatives from government, industry, academia, corporate social responsibility (CSR) organisations and disability advocacy groups to strengthen India’s inclusive skilling and employment ecosystem.
The initiative received support from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Tata Power Community Development Trust, Honda India Foundation, Pay Autention, and the World Trade Center Mumbai.
Governor Calls for Inclusive Growth
Addressing the gathering, Governor Jishnu Dev Varma stressed that inclusive development must remain central to India’s progress towards a developed nation. Referring to official disability statistics, he noted that India has over 2.68 crore Persons with Disabilities, while Maharashtra alone is home to nearly 30 lakh persons with disabilities.
He appreciated the contribution of Sarthak Educational Trust in promoting education, skill development and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities. Congratulating India’s National Abilympics champions, he said that equal opportunities, technological advancement and the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence should work together to create a society where every individual can realise their full potential.
Building on India’s Success
India’s preparations for Finland 2027 follow its best-ever performance at the 10th International Abilympics held in Metz, France, where the Indian team won one Gold, two Silver, three Bronze medals and a Certificate of Excellence.
For the upcoming competition, participants are undergoing assessments and specialised training across 28 internationally recognised vocational skill categories, including information technology, hospitality, creative arts, crafts and service industries.
Skill Exhibition Highlights Talent
A major attraction of the event was the National Abilympics Skill Exhibition, where 30 national champions demonstrated their expertise in photography, bakery, hospitality, tailoring, painting, design, digital technologies and several other vocational disciplines. The exhibition highlighted how professional skills can promote financial independence and meaningful employment for persons with disabilities.
Industry Leaders Discuss Future of Work
The event also hosted a series of leadership discussions focusing on inclusive employment, policy reforms, technology, partnerships and leadership development.
Representatives from leading organisations, including Amazon, Deutsche Bank, Mahindra & Mahindra, Union Bank of India, Startek, Sutherland Global, IIT Bombay SINE, Tata Power Community Development Trust, and the World Trade Center Mumbai, shared their perspectives on creating a more inclusive workforce.
A common theme throughout the discussions was the changing nature of employment driven by Artificial Intelligence, robotics and automation. Speakers emphasised that continuous skill development, rather than fear of job displacement, would be the key to ensuring long-term employability for persons with disabilities. They also stressed stronger collaboration between government, educational institutions and industry to develop future-ready skills aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat.
Participants further highlighted the importance of improving disability data collection, strengthening the training of census enumerators and ensuring accessible governance for evidence-based policymaking.
Corporate Commitment to Inclusive Skilling
Rajiv Taneja, CSR Head of Honda India Foundation, said that disability inclusion in India has made significant progress since the enactment of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. He noted that the foundation has introduced Electric Vehicle Technician and Solar Technician training programmes to prepare persons with disabilities for emerging employment sectors and encouraged more organisations to invest in similar initiatives.
Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Founder and CEO of Sarthak Educational Trust and Secretary General of NAAI, said the organisation aims to field India’s largest and strongest team for Finland 2027 through high-quality training, strategic partnerships and a robust support ecosystem. He added that collaboration among government, industry, academia and civil society will be critical in creating sustainable livelihoods and expanding opportunities for persons with disabilities.
Pankaj Kumar Singh, Chief – Community Impact at Tata Power, announced the launch of a six-month mentorship programme for selected Abilympics participants under Tata Power Community Development Trust’s Pay Autention initiative. The programme will connect participants with Tata Group volunteers and industry experts to strengthen their skills, confidence and international competitiveness.
Eighteen Years of Impact
Over the past 18 years, Sarthak Educational Trust has reached more than 5.3 million persons with disabilities through advocacy and awareness programmes, while directly supporting over 100,000 individuals through education, rehabilitation, skill development and employment initiatives.
The organisation has also conducted over 200 advocacy programmes, established partnerships with more than 5,000 corporate organisations, leads the India Disability Empowerment Alliance (IDEA) with over 1,100 NGO partners, and operates three digital inclusion platforms serving more than 100,000 users.
The Foundation Day celebrations and pre-international assessments marked a significant step in India’s preparations for the International Abilympics Finland 2027, reinforcing the shared commitment of government, industry and civil society to build an inclusive and future-ready workforce where every person with disability has the opportunity to learn, compete and contribute to the nation’s development.
