Place: Neelkanth Mahadev Mandir, Near Nagalpur College, Mehsana
GNLU Centre For Disability Studies team consisting of Ms Sudhanshi Sikarwar, Mr Nakul Saha and Mr Vukanti Lenin Siddhartha Reddy, visited Mehsana to conduct a focused group discussion on “Accessible Banking Services for Visually Impaired People in the state of Gujarat” and legal aid awareness program on 7th April, 2024. The participants consisted around 80 people, with various disabilities and majority of them were visually impaired people. Legal awareness was created and aid was provided regarding the importance of banking services and accessibility of these services for disabled people. Issues like denial of ATM cards and cheque books to visually impaired people by bank employees and proper redressal mechanism to approach for grievance resolution was told to participants. Also, in light of upcoming general elections in our country, in order to ensure full participation and right to suffrage, awareness was created regarding accessible news for visually impaired people and hard of hearing people, option to cast vote from home. It was also observed that many secondary banking services were not accessible by people like ATM, loans, lockers, DEMAT accounts, internet or mobile banking. Lack of reach of technological advancement and economic status of the community were two factors found to be reason behind lack of accessibility and full participation.
The centre members visited Blind school in sector 16 Gandhinagar in Furtherance of the initiative of the Legal Aid Programme. The members had interacted with Teachers and students of the school. They have interacted with every student individually, and Asked about the ambitions of the students, and They have also discussed about the facilities provided for them, In furtherance of their studies. They have inspired the students and tried to Build confidence So that they can achieve great heights and Realise their ambitions.
Ms. Ruchi Bansal, and Ms. Sudhanshi Sikarwar, on behalf of GNLU Centre for Disability Studies, visited Visnagar, Mehnsana, Gujarat on 5th February 2024 and conducted the awareness programme on Accessible Banking Services To The Visually Challenged People. The team has explained the rights of the visually challenged customers and as well as the oblication of the bankers towards the visually challenged customers.
The GNLU Centre for Disability Studies (GCDS) organized the Awareness Program on “Accessible Banking Services to the Visually Challenged People in the State of Gujarat” in Patan District, Gujarat. There are 50 visually impaired participants who have participated in the program. The GCDS team guided them about their rights related to the banking services and the obligation of the banks towards them.
GNLU Centre for Disability Studies has celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities through a webinar on “Representation of Disabilities in Politics.”
India is known for its Largest democracy and its inclusiveness. However, after 75 years of independence, there is inadequate representation of persons with disabilities in politics. This webinar aims to discuss the Issues, Challenges, and opportunities connected with the representation of Persons with Disabilities in the Parliament, Legislative assemblies, and Local Body institutions.Panelist:-
GNLU Centre for Disability Studies has undertaken a Research Project on “Accessible Banking Services to the Visually Impaired People In The State of Gujarat, which is funded by ICSSR. For proceeding with the project and celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, GNLU Center for Disability Studies has planned a Focus Group Discussion and Webinar on “Accessible Banking Services To the Visually Challenged People: Challenges And Road Ahead” on 1st December, 2023.
Panelist:-
GNLU Centre for Disability Studies has undertaken a Research Project on “Accessible Banking Services to the Visually Impaired People In The State of Gujarat, which is funded by ICSSR. For proceeding with the project and celebrating the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, GNLU Center for Disability Studies has planned a Focus Group Discussion and Webinar on “Accessible Banking Services To the Visually Challenged People: Challenges And Road Ahead” on 23 November, 2023.
Panelist:-
Resource Persons with the topics:
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
GNLU Centre for Disability Studies conducted the “Summer School on Disability Studies” to provide theoretical and practical aspects of disabilities. In this programme, topics such as Concept of Disability, Nature, Definitions and Models, Theoretical Perspectives of Disability, Governmental Policy and Framework for the Empowerment of Disabilities and Research on Disabilities, were deliberated.
There were around 100 participants in this Summer School from all across the country including academicians, research scholars and disability activists and about 50 persons with disabilities including people with hearing impairments. The sessions of summer school were conducted by Dr. Renu Addlakha, Dr. Anita Ghai, Mr. Abhishek Thakur, Dr. Sanjay Jain, Mr. Mukesh Kumar, and Mr. Pratap Chandra Behera from 8th of August to 16th of August,2020.
The programme was inaugurated by the Director of GNLU, Prof (Dr.) S Shanthakumar on 8th of August 2020.
Resource Persons:
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
GNLU Centre for Disability Studies conducted webinar on “Rights of Women with Disabilities” on June 30, 2020. This webinar was intended to provide detailed information about the rights of women with disabilities and the current Government policies and other aspects. There were around 100 participants all across the country including academicians, research scholars, students and disability activists. The Programme was inaugurated by the Director of GNLU, Prof (Dr.) S Shanthakumar, and resource persons were Ms. Shampa Sengupta, Dr. Shipli Bhattacharya, Mr. V. Murlidharan and Ms. Meenakshi B. Equals.
Name of the Resource Persons:
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
GNLU Centre for Disability Studies organized a webinar on the topic “Disability Laws and Policies in India” on 23rd May, 2020. The aim of the webinar was to create an awareness among the most ignorant and marginalized section of the society. The webinar was inaugurated by our honorable Director, Prof. (Dr.) S. Shanthakumar and was witnessed by more than one hundred participants all across the country including research scholars, academicians, activists and students. The invited resource persons were Dr. Sanjay Jain, Principal ILS Pune, Mr. Amar Jain Corporate Lawyer and Certified Accessibility Professional and Ms. Kanchan Pamnani, Advocate, High Court of Bombay.
Resource Persons:
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
GNLU Centre for Disability Studies conducted this webinar on “Covid19: Livelihood of Persons with Disabilities in India” on May 14, 2020. This webinar was conducted to understand the problems and difficulties faced by this vulnerable section of the society and the Government’s approach to solve their problems. The distinguished speakers of the programme were Ms. Sampa Sengupta, Director, Sruti Disability Rights Centre, Mr. V. Muralidharan, General Secretary, NPRD and Mr. Ramachari, Director, Diversity and Equal opportunity Cell. There were 100 participants from all across the country including academicians, research scholars, disability activists and around 50 persons with disabilities including, hearing impaired participants, in this webinar.
Organized Centre/Committee: GNLU Centre for Disability Studies (GCDS) and GNLU Committee for Persons with Disabilities (GCPwD)
Resource Persons:
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
GNLU Centre for Disability Studies has organized this workshop on “Learning Disability”. This workshop aimed to sensitize the participants about different aspects of learning disabilities and to train the participants on creating inclusive environment for the students with learning disabilities. The identifying areas covered by this programme were the concept of learning disability, the difference between learning disability and mental disability and behaviors of people with learning disability. There were around 100 participants who attended the workshop, including research scholars, disability activists, academicians and students. The resource persons for the second event were trainers from Shant Child Development Centre Mr. Shailesh Mistry, Mr. Deep Pathak and Ms. Vibha Barad. The session covered the concept of learning Disability and coping up strategies for teachers and fellow students with persons with Learning Disability. The events witnessed participants from GNLU and from various other institutions.The programme was inaugurated by the Director of GNLU, Prof (Dr.) S Shanthakumar on 19th of August 2020.
Resource Persons: Dr. Nisha Khanna (Ph.D), a Mental Health Professional, Renowned Psychologist and Certified EQ coach.
ABOUT THE PROGRAMME
GNLU Centre for Disability Studies conducted an awareness programme on “Mental Health” on February 18th, 2020. Nowadays, mental disorders are the leading causes of ill-health and disability worldwide. Recently concluded National Mental Health Survey of India estimates the current prevalence of mental disorders in the age group of 18-29 years at 7.39 %. India has 30% of its population in youth category, hence it is vital for us to approach mental well-being more seriously. ‘Prevention begins with better understanding’, keeping this in mind, with an aim to educate our students about the importance of mental health, the GNLU Centre for Disability Studies (GCDS) along with GNLU Committee for Persons with Disabilities (GCPwD) organized this half day event on Mental Health on 18/02/2020.
The resource person for this programme, Dr. Nisha Khanna (Ph.D), a Mental Health Professional, Renowned Psychologist and Certified EQ coach, addressed the gathering and had a fruitful discussion on issues relating to mental health which the youth of India are undergoing. As per her opinion, the increasingly competitive nature of higher education has aggravated common academic stressors which contribute to mental health issues among the students and to control the same, awareness on mental health and stress management is important. She spoke about different types of mental health issues that the students in higher education sector are undergoing including depression, anxiety, addictions, substance use disorders etc. and deliberated and guided the participants as to how one can construct and maintain a healthy mind.
