Bhubaneswar: Shanta Memorial Rehabilitation Centre (SMRC) celebrated its 39th Foundation Day on Thursday.
On this occasion, the 10th Ashok Memorial Lecture was delivered by Arman Ali veteran disability activist and Director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) Delhi. Aurobindo Behera, member Advisory Board SMRC, chaired the meeting.
Prof. Ashok Sar of KIIT University and member board SMRC initiated the proceedings, speaking on the relentless efforts made by the founder of SMRC, Ashok Hans, and the diverse dimensions of disability that SMRC has been working on, not only at the state level but also at the national and international levels.
He called on Arman Ali, the Chief Guest, to deliver the Lecture: The forgotten Demographic: Disabled People in Politics”. An activist of 20 years and a wheelchair user, he provided the history of political participation and exclusion of persons with disabilities. The activism by persons with disabilities has created laws that makes it mandatory for inclusive political process in India. He worked with SMRC’s founder Ashok Hans in improving accessibility for persons with disabilities.
The speakers, especially the Disability Commissioner Bratati Harichandan, and Niyati Pattnaik, Director SSEPD highlighted the importance of inclusive policies and practices, emphasising the need for collaborative efforts to ensure equal opportunities and rights for persons with disabilities, a press release said.
The celebration of SMRC’s 39 years of dedicated service to the disability community and the Ashok Memorial Lecture marks a significant milestone in the organisation’s ongoing commitment to improving the lives of persons with disabilities. The event provided a platform for dialogue and exchange of ideas, reinforcing the collective responsibility towards building an inclusive future.
