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Hindustan Times
01-08-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Dateline Lucknow: Skills outshine handicap at regional round of Abilympics
Over 100 persons with disabilities from eight states, having different skills, participated in the North Zone Regional Abilympics – the Olympics of Skills, that began at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Scientific Convention Center on Friday. A participant at Abilympics, held in Lucknow on Friday (HT Photo) It was organised by the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI) in collaboration with Sarthak Educational Trust, and supported by the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities (DEPwD). Persons with disabilities showcased their skills in photography, painting & decoration, basket-making, crochet, massage, hairdressing, cake decoration, character designing and engineering design. People from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Delhi have participated as part of the Abilympics. The winners from the regional round will compete in the National Abilympics 2025 to be held in Gurugram later in November, where Team India will be selected to represent the country at the 11th International Abilympics in Finland (2027). Narendra Kumar Kashyap, minister for backward classes welfare and for empowerment of persons with disabilities said that the regional Abilympics is a step towards skilling and job mapping for persons with disabilities as they work towards the 2027 Finland Abilympics. 'The state is eager to collaborate with organisations working for the empowerment of persons with disabilities as it will help achieve a larger vision of their sustainable empowerment. With a Rs1950 crore budget focused on early interventions, vocational training, and livelihood opportunities, the state is committed to ensuring that every person with disability thrives and contributes to the progress of the state,' said Kashyap. Dr Jitender Aggarwal, secretary-general NAAI and founder and CEO Sarthak Educational Trust, said that Abilympics is a movement to unlock economic dignity, confidence, and careers for Persons with Disabilities across India. Bharti Saini, 24, a participant from Nainital in the painting event said the programme gave confidence that her abilities can help her shine. 'When I was nine, I mistakenly held a cracker which made me lose both my hands. I always had painting as a hobby and with time and with my family's support I cultivated the hobby. Competing at the Abilympics made me realise that our abilities can create opportunities,' said Saini. Kaushalya Bisht, 23, another participant with a 90% visual impairment said that she was in Class 2 when she learned crochet. 'Participating in the programme is my way of showcasing my talent to people. My parents feel glad to see me crochet which energizes me to improve myself,' said Bisht.
Fashion Value Chain
08-07-2025
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Sarthak Marks 17 Years with Abilympics & Inclusion Drive
The World Trade Center, Mumbai came alive with spirit, determination, and a celebration of ability as Sarthak Educational Trust, in partnership with the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI), marked its 17th Foundation Day and hosted the Regional Abilympics 2025. The event opened with the soulful Ganesh Vandana, followed by the national anthem and a ceremonial lamp-lighting. Over 150 participants, including students, parents, dignitaries, and changemakers gathered in solidarity to promote empowerment and inclusion. Esteemed Dignitaries in Attendance: Dr Vijay Kalantri , Chairman, WTC Mumbai Shri Siddhartha Rastogi , MD & CEO, Ambit Capital Dr Jitender Aggarwal , Founder & CEO, Sarthak Educational Trust Shri Nitin Patil (IAS) , Commissioner, Skill Development Dept., Govt. of Maharashtra Mr. Raj Kapur, Advisory Board Member, Sarthak Educational Trust Key Highlights: An emotional announcement by Dr Jitender Aggarwal marked the day: 'Sarthak will celebrate its Annual Day every year at the World Trade Center Mumbai – a place that shares our commitment to inclusion.' In his address, Dr Vijay Kalantri praised Sarthak's reach and vision: 'You've reached 5.3 billion and aim for 1 billion – that's a remarkable goal. The differently abled possess extraordinary capabilities. WTC Mumbai stands with this mission of inclusion.' Through personal stories, Dr Kalantri underlined the strength and potential of people with disabilities, urging collective support for a more inclusive future. With Finland 2027 Abilympics on the horizon, the Regional Abilympics act as a critical platform, empowering youth with disabilities to display their talents and prepare for global representation. The two-day celebration continues on July 5, with skill competitions, workshops, and inspiring journeys that spotlight ability over disability.
India Today
07-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Not Olympics but Abilympics for disabled concludes in Mumbai, 26 win medals
At the World Trade Centre, Mumbai, the second and final day of the West Zone Regional Abilympics 2025 came to a close. Over two days, 67 participants with disabilities from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Goa competed in over 15 vocational skill categories -- from ICT to craft, hospitality, and Abilympics, also known as the 'Work Skill Olympics for People with Disabilities,' is a national effort led by the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI) and Sarthak Educational Trust, supported by the DEPwD and partners such as TPCDT, WTC, and IndusInd NOT SYMPATHYThe event was a test of skill. And it delivered. From engineering design to cake decoration, candidates proved that talent needs no sympathy -- only a platform. Ten Gold, nine Silver, and seven Bronze medals were awarded. Many of these winners will now head to the National Abilympics in Gurugram this November -- one step closer to the global stage in Finland, 2027. In ICT, Rupa Dhanjibhai from Surat topped engineering design. In craft, Pune artists swept the Crochet and Painting categories. The hospitality segment saw Pune's Manohar Nadimetal win Gold in cleaning Kashif clinched Gold in patisserie. In services, Vadodara's Amisha Varia won Hair Dressing, while Jaipur's Bhavesh stood out in GRAND PHRASES, JUST JOB-READYDay 2 also hosted a job fair. Candidates with different disabilities were interviewed by recruiters from Zepto, Yes Bank, Barbeque Nation and others. The goal was simple -- move from recognition to the closing, Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt shared their thoughts. 'Empowering others is the highest purpose,' said Bhatt. 'Inclusion begins when we honour difference,' said Jitender Aggarwal, the man behind Sarthak and NAAI, kept it clear: 'These are not just winners. They are ready for real work. And India must be ready to offer it.' With 64% of India's 2.68 crore PwDs unemployed, this event was not a celebration -- it was a call to act.- Ends
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
From Chennai to Helsinki: here is the lowdown on Abilympics
Fifteen new vocational skills will be showcased in the form of contests at the 11th International Abilympics scheduled to be held in Finland in 2027. According to Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, secretary-general of National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI), these additional categories at Abilympics are aimed at increasing the number of participants. Abilympics is organised for those with disabilities. Before starting Sarthak Educational Trust in 2004, Dr Aggarwal was a dental surgeon; he continued as one until he lost his vision due to mascular degeneration. * Of the 40 plus categories in vocational skills, 15 are being introduced for the first time. How and why is this important? Newly-introduced categories (also called 'trades') include Baking, Hairdressing, Fashion Technology, Hotel Reception, Childcare and Massage Therapy. These additions reflect emerging employment opportunities for the disabled community. International Abilympics is held once in four years where participants compete in 45 trades. India is also one of the members of the governing body and I am an executive member in it, where we brainstorm about new skills to be added and the ones that can be omitted. We prescribe skills that are mentioned in the IAF charter. * India hosted International Abilympics for the first time in 2003 in New Delhi. How has Abilympics or 'Olympics of Abilities' evolved since then? The National Abilympic Association was formed in 2001 so that India could host the 2003 edition, where we had 1500 participants and 40 countries competing. In 2016, NAAI was handed over to Sarthak Educational Trust and we revived it. Besides tapping into talents among those with disabilities, we also need to support them by identifying expert coaches, offering infrastructure and equipment to help them compete at the international stage. The 2023 Abilympics in France was our first major outing where we noticed that the talent pool from Japan, France, South Korea and China were highly competitive. We learnt a lot from them. We are making Abilympics also professional like Olympics and Paralympics. * What are the expectations for Indians from Abilympics 2027? In 2023, we returned with seven medals. This year, our target is 30. We have faculty from IITs and other premier institutions to train and guide our participants, both physically and emotionally. We want more persons with disabilities to showcase their vocational skills. We are planning to have a wild card category next time. Winners speak Greeting the world with a resilient heart Swetha Kulkarni has been dabbling in painting since her school days, having been motivated by the encouragement provided by her teachers. 'It was Vijaya Lakshmi ma'am who taught me to design greeting cards and do many other crafts. She took me to many competitions as well,' says Swetha, who is hearing-impaired. Her disability has not been a deterrent to pursuing excellence. She went on to study BE Computer Science at a college in Davangere. Now, she works with a leading software company in Chennai as business process lead. 'During weekends I make it a point to sketch or draw and it helps me de-stress,' says Swetha, showing the many greeting cards she has designed. From YouTube she has been picking up new techniques in art and also does photography. Weekends are for wellness While he was between jobs, Parul Agrawal stumbled upon a diploma programme in spa therapy. He took it up. 'It was a six-month programme. There was some pessimism, initially, when I considered the job prospects of this course. Now I am glad I am able to juggle work as an HR professional during weekdays and that of a massage therapist at a wellness centre during weekends,' says Parul, who is visually-challenged. He is happy winning gold at the South Zone Regional Abilympics 2025 and is looking forward to bigger platforms where he can showcase his skills. 'Visually impaired people can provide excellent massage therapy services because our sense of touch amounts to a big advantage,' says Parul. His employer is happy that like other able-bodied employees in the wellness centre he is able to take up tasks such as foot reflexology and massages. Making cakes look as good as they taste Speech-and-hearing-impaired R. Sathish Kumar can make cakes look as good as they taste. The 48-year-old is a professional cake artist. His son U.S. Niraj remembers how Sathish made one of his birthdays memorable by designing a cake in the form of a racing car track. 'People usually draw and show what design they need in the cake or bring photos, and he gets it perfect most of the time,' says Niraj. Sathish began his career working in a bakery where he picked up the skill to decorate cakes with fondants and other decorative features. A skilled artist, Sathish now takes classes in cake decoration for those with disabilities as well as able-bodied individuals at Cheshire Homes in Coimbatore. He is a regular to most cake decoration competitions and has many victories to his credit. The medals from these competitions are displayed at his home. Besides creativity, one needs steady hands and precision to shine in this field, he says.
The Hindu
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Tamil Nadu Governor emphasises urgent need to address intellectual disabilities
Intellectual disabilities are increasingly becoming a key issue in the country and must be addressed as a top priority, Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi said. He noted that a solution has to be found for intellectual disability. Speaking at the South Zone Regional Abilympics and Conference 2025, said: 'Developing technology which will benefit people with disabilities (PwDs) in the long run is the need of the hour. I am hopeful that institutes like IITM will come up with the right R&D for the PwD sector.' Organised by the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI) in collaboration with Sarthak Educational Trust, and supported by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Government of India, TPCDT, and IndusInd Bank, the event saw over 100 PwDs from across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry. Jitender Aggarwal, Secretary-General of NAAI and Founder & CEO of Sarthak Educational Trust highlighted that they have help over 1 lakh people with disabilities to secure jobs. also pointed out that Sarthak Educational Trust is planning to launch Sarthak Global University, which is aimed to fill in the gaps in Early Intervention and therapy for infants and children, shortage of rehabilitation professionals and more. The plan is to start with 5 schools in 20 departments providing over 200 courses which is aimed to train 10,000 professionals specializing in disability rehab, inclusive education, assistive technology and more. This will enable 100,000 PwD's through education, vocational training, and skill development programs. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras said, ' We have a centre developed for mobility in IITM. As a country we have the human capital to develop these technological needs which can benefit PwD's in their daily life. We are looking forward to a long technical collaboration with Sarthak to provide mobility and accessibility solutions for PwD's.'
