Candor celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities by hosting an event on 28th November. Differently-abled achievers, CEOs and top executives got together to sensitise the masses on the need for inclusivity in infrastructure.
To celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (which falls on 3rd December), Candor TechSpace organised an event at Roseate House in New Delhi on 28th November 2018. The occasion saw differently-abled achievers and some distinguished persons from various domains engage in a stimulating dialogue on the role of infrastructure in facilitating the inclusion of people with disabilities and sensitising the masses on the need for the same. The speakers also shared their experiences of continually challenging the stereotypes associated with disability and their remarkable achievements in life.
Speaking about the event, Shantanu Chakraborty, VP, Brookfield Properties, says, “At Candor TechSpace, we firmly believe that differently-abled people have the ability to excel in any field irrespective of their physical constraints. The event is just one among many of our efforts to support differently-abled individuals and celebrate their remarkable achievements. We also believe in practising what we preach. To this end, the infrastructure at Candor TechSpace has been designed with an emphasis on inclusivity and accessibility: the offi ce spaces are equipped with wheelchairs, access ramps at entrances and specially built washrooms.”
The event began with a panel discussion on ‘Transformation towards Sustainable and Resilient Society for All’. The panellists were Dorodi Sharma, a disability rights advocate; Ira Singhal, the first differently-abled woman to top the Civil Services exams in the general category and the first differently abled person to join the Indian Revenue Services; Nipun Malhotra, Co-founder and CEO, Nipman Foundation (that promotes health and advocacy for persons with disabilities); Suvarna Raj, a medal-winning athlete in para-table tennis; and Vittalkumar A Dhage, VP – Sustainability, Accenture Workplace Solutions.
Ira Singhal was quoted as saying during the panel discussion, “When we speak of equal opportunities for people with disabilities, we also need to consider the environment and the infrastructure around us, which for the most part, is not disabled friendly and constricts them greatly. But when the infrastructure is made in a way that allows everyone equal access, they will be ‘able’ enough to pursue their goals, irrespective of their physical disabilities.”
Suvarna Raj also stated her views by saying, “Accessibility in the physical infrastructure is crucial to ensuring a dignified life and opportunities for people with disabilities. There is a need for basic infrastructure in the country such as schools, hospitals, commercial spaces, transportation, etc. to be more disabled-friendly. The private sector is leading the charge for the cause of inclusivity in the industry and the government should look to collaborate with leading players in the infrastructure space to bring about change on a large scale.”
The panel discussion was followed by a performance by ‘We Are One’, a differently-abled group of wheelchair users and hearing and speech-impaired artistes. The group has also set the Guinness World Record for the most number of spins on a wheelchair in a minute.
