Sabal Sahyog, a Tata Steel CSR initiative kicks off
Jamshedpur: Sabal Sahyog, a two-day event aimed to focus on initiating discussions and the way forward on livelihood opportunities for Persons With Disability (PwD) and work out alliances within the Jharkhand ecosystem, kicked off today at the Tribal Culture Centre, Sonari.
Sabal was conceived in 2017 by Tata Steel CSR in partnership with Enable India, with the intent to engender an increased awareness for persons with disability and work towards creating a sensitised environment that ensures equal rights and respect for the same. Starting initially in the form of a centre for capacity building of organisations working on disability, Sabal today has established itself as an ecosystem that has engaged with more than 5,000 people and more than 50 government and private organisations.
The event was inaugurated by State Disability Commissioner, Mr. Satish Chandra today evening. Speaking on the occasion Mr Chandra said, “There have been numerous policy changes in the disability sector and it is imperative that both public and private organizations understand the nuances of accessibility when considering employment of Persons With Disabilities. Access is not just limited to enabling physical infrastructure but also includes creating a holistic ecosystem that ensures a quality and dignified life.”
In addition to fulfilling the aforementioned objectives, Sabal also directly engages with PWD for livelihood and skill development programmes through various trainings, foundation courses, digital literacy and skill enhancement workshops. Through its annual event, Sabal Sahyog, it provides a platform for like-minded organisations and individuals to converge and engage in experiential learning which is integral to developing disability programmes that address the demographic needs that various locations demand. Over the years, Tata Steel CSR, in partnership with the government, has worked on several areas that addresses some of the key concerns of PWDs that have emerged out of such events.
This year Sabal Sahyog being held for two-days on February 11-12, 2020 focuses on initiating discussions and the way forward on livelihood opportunities for PWD and disability alliances within the Jharkhand ecosystem. Speakers such as Shanti Raghvan, National Awardee, Founder, Managing trustee, Enable India, and K N Radhakrishnan Nair, founder NADE (National Association of Disabled’s Enterprises) will discuss best practices and NADE’s production workshop model. The programme has representation from 24 districts of Jharkhand, and is aimed to understand how similar sustainable models can be contextualised and implemented within Jharkhand.