Skill-based Abilympics gives hope to PwDs

Working on his task of Character Designing, Kishore Mohite from Pune with hearing impairment is in the hope of winning the ICT competition. Orthopaedically challenged Anita used to work as an accountant. Today she is competing in Regional Abilympics showcasing her talent by giving beauty therapy to the onlookers. Mumbai recently hosted the regional Abilympics, showcasing special talent of People with Disabilities.

The Abilympics has given hope to many people in our country not known for looking after its differently-abled. The Abilympics is a skill-based competition that provides a platform for the differently-abled. Organised every year, its events test competitors’ mental, physical and creative abilities. Participants get a chance to display skills at everything from computer programming to floral arrangement. The event hosted by the National Abilympics Association of India (NAAI), under the aegis of Sarthak Educational Trust with the support of The Hans Foundation, witnessed participation of over 450+ people with disabilities (PwDs).

Companies like Capgemini, Reliance Retail, Mirchi and Mine, Sutherlanad, ICICI  Lombard, Sodexo, Aegis, Wipro, Pantaloons, Flipkart, Barrier Break, Tea Post conducted a drive to hire PwDs. A Regional Conference on ‘Corporate Progression Toward Inclusion and Diversity’ was also held and saw participation of several Government officials, NGOs, Corporates and their CSR heads, discussing prospects and scope of empowering and providing sustainable livelihood to PWDs in order to help them lead a dignified life.

The second half of the inaugural day saw a Panel Discussion on “Speaker in Reflection of Disability through Media: Speak of me as I” in the presence of Bollywood personalities Mahesh Bhatt and Pooja Bhatt. Mahesh Bhatt said, “After meeting & interacting with this special pool of talent I strongly feel their eyes telling me, Don’t treat me as unequal, give me job. I am more focused. I don’t have distraction like social media addiction which everyone today is glued to. I feel wonderful I could make someone smile today and someday, I would love to come back and speak in sign language with these souls.”

Once a leading dentist in Delhi, Dr. Jitendra Agrawal lost central vision of his both eyes in his early 30s because of macular degeneration. However, he didn’t let his personal disability cripple him and through the dint of his determination and unflinching commitment to the cause of PwDs, he formed Sarthak Education Trust in 2008. Over the years, Sarthak has trained and secured lucrative placement for over 15,000 PWDs. The trust has also facilitated medical rehabilitation of over 1,000 children born with disability through Infoedge, Naukri.com, CROCS, Capgemini, NSDC, Mahindra Finance and many more.