Bhubaneswar: A society aspiring to be inclusive should ensure that everyone should move forward together and no one is left behind, said eminent social worker Dr Sruti Mohapatra.
Speaking on “How do you think differently to create an inclusive society” at the third virtual SOA Fortnightly Academic Lecture (SOAFAL), she said an inclusive society overrides differences of race, gender, class, generation and geography and ensures inclusion, equality of opportunity as well as capability of all members of the society for creating a world which would provide equal opportunities to all and pave the way for a sustainable future. SOAFAL is organised in SOA every fortnight jointly by the NSS bureau and SOA Wellness Centre.
Dr Mohapatra, who has been in the forefront of major policy changes to create an equal society for people with disabilities, advised the students to focus on solutions and never on the problem, dream big, believe in one’s own self if he or she wanted to be a change maker and never allow anyone to define success for oneself.
She also spoke on her continuing battle against stereotype responses to the disabled and how she coped with the mental adversities more than physical ones. She is the founder and CEO of ‘Swabhiman’, an NGO and ‘Anjali’, an inclusive festival to empower the disabled.
Prof Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, Vice-Chancellor of SOA and Dr Nachiketa Sharma, NSS Coordinator for SOA were also present. Earlier, Prof Mahapatra felicitated Dr Kamal L Mohanta and Pratik Das as best NSS Program Officer and best NSS Volunteer for 2019-20.
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