Assam: Seminar on Safeguarding Divyangjan held at West Guwahati Commerce College

STAFF REPORTER

Guwahati: A state-level seminar on “The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016: Provisions, Challenges, and Remedies for Safeguarding the Interests of the Dibyangjan” was held on December 28, 2024, at the conference hall of West Guwahati Commerce College, Guwahati, to mark the observation of the national day of empowering people with disabilities with the goal of providing a forum for discussion of the issues faced by them, organised by the SAKSHAM North Assam Chapter, in collaboration with the NSS unit of West Guwahati Commerce College, Guwahati.

This will help to raise public awareness, foster understanding, and effect changes in attitudes, perceptions, and behaviours that will enable people with disabilities to participate as fully as possible in society, said Dr. Arup Jyoti Kalita, honorary secretary, SAKSHAM North Assam Prant, while giving the welcome address in the seminar. Explaining the importance of organising such a seminar to sensitise social workers, students, and instructors, among others, at institutions and colleges in Assam, as well as the general public, he stated that if one person with a disability lives in a family, the entire family is affected, and that over 12 crore people in India are touched by disability. 

Addressing the conference as a resource person, Debajit Kalita, Advocate of Gauhati High Court, described in detail to the participants the various parts of the act that protect the interests of particularly-abled people by enforcing regulations. He also stated that this new legislation has altered the legal paradigm, with discrimination against specially abled people now considered a violation of basic human rights.

Taking part as a special speaker in the seminar, Dr. Kalpana Bora, Professor of Gauhati University, stated that a significant portion of our population is made up of specially able individuals and that those in need of community have promising creative and productive abilities. She also mentioned several government initiatives aimed at improving the welfare of divyangjan. Dr. Anup. Chakrabarty, a renowned educationist, spoke about his own experience as a distinguished speaker and the challenges those persons with disabilities encounter, as well as the circumstances that affect those who are specially abled.   Attending the seminar, Prof. Bhabananda Dutta, Vice Principal of West Guwahati Commerce College, welcomed the resource persons and participants while Dr. Malamoni Hazarika, a Saksham volunteer, moderated the seminar. Dr. Prateekha Barban, Professor and Program Officer of the NSS Unit of West Guwahati Commerce College, presented the closing remarks and an overview of the seminar’s primary takeaways. Participating in the seminar were volunteers, SHG members, research scholars, teachers, social workers, students, and karyakatas of Saksham. Throughout the seminar, the participants asked the resource persons multiple questions to elicit more information from them.

Also Read: Assam Government Committed to Empowering Divyangjan: Minister Pijush Hazarika

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