If you were to sneak a glance at Shri Ram College of Commerce’s Tute Alley, instead of seeing an empty pathway, you would be met with the sight of students cradling cups of hot coffee and crafting origami flowers out of purple-hued chart paper.
Their efforts are a creative endeavour driven by a deep will to create change.The glint of determination in their eyes echoes the sentiments of 63 million people with disabilities in India, who face barriers to accessibility and opportunity every day. Enactus SRCC, a social entrepreneurship organisation, is all set to host ECHOES, an event in collaboration with the Association for Disabled People, aimed at raising awareness and creating an inclusive platform for individuals with disabilities.
Since its inception in 2007, the student-run body has successfully executed 14 projects, with 3 currently under its ambit. Project Virasat deals with reviving India’s endangered craft forms and supporting the artisans behind them. Collecting cigarette butt waste and processing it into unique products, such as diaries, packaging, and bricks, is encompassed under Project Leher and most recently undertaken initiative, Project Aavaran aims at providing accessible and affordable adaptive wear.
Aavaran, meaning veil, began as a small idea in a quiet corner of an empty classroom.The mission to provide physical comfort and psychological inclusivity incited the team to conduct a survey encompassing over a thousand mobility-impaired individuals. Their findings helped them develop a shoe that is cost-effective, fashionable, and sparked conversations which were earlier shrouded due to stigma. Now, the venture impacts over 120 lives, caters to individuals across 10 disabilities, and has assessed the needs of more than a thousand patients.
As Aavaran pivoted into a new trajectory, adaptive apparel, Enactus SRCC wished to create a platform that ignites discussions on the needs of the main stakeholders and helps recognise them as instrumental members of society.
Thus, the concept of ECHOES was born. As the inaugural event on the occasion of the centenary year, the symposium includes multiple segments. The Chief Guest for the event is Mr. Jitendra Sharma, director at Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities and joining him as a Special Guest will be Mr. Sachin Chamaria, a business leader at Growealth Capital LLP and a para-athlete. Featured in the event are
renowned para-athletes, including Munna Khalid, and Narayan Thakur, Deepak and Manisha along with dedicated community professionals such as Dr Sangeetha Thakur, Varun Ahlawat, and Meet Singhal. Attendees will get the opportunity to hear powerful keynote addresses and a panel discussion aimed at raising public consciousness for specially-abled individuals.
This initiative introduces a one-of-a-kind platform for professionals from the community to showcase dances and theatrical performances, highlighting inclusivity. In line with Project Aavaran’s initiative, mobility-impaired para-athletes will also walk down the runway adorned in custom pieces of adaptive apparel and footwear. Additionally, for differently abled children, an art competition segment would be organized to feature their creative skills.
So, the next time you see students savouring coffee or shaping pieces of paper, know that these are the first few vibrations of an echo that are a part of a larger effort to create a much more inclusive world.