Report on Observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities,
3rd December, 2016 at Calcutta University Institute HallGovt. of West Bengal, Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare observed International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December, 2016. On this occasion a ‘Press Brief’ was organized at Press Club Kolkata on 29th November, 2016. Dr. (Smt.) Shashi Panja, HMOS (IC), W&CD and SW Deptt. briefed electronic and print media about details of programmes to be held from 3rd to 5th December, 2016.
‘Walk’ for creating public awareness on various aspects of disability was organized on 3rd December, 2016 which was flagged of by Smt. Ranu Bhattacharya, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, West Bengal from College Square Gate on Bankim Chatterjee Street at 2.00 pm. Around 500 persons with disabilities, NGO representatives, parents took part in the walk.
State Award function was held on 3rd December, 2016 at Calcutta University Institute Hall, Kolkata from 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm. Dr. (Smt.) Shashi Panja, HMOS (IC), W&CD & SW Deptt., Smt. Roshni Sen, Secretary, W&CD & SW Deptt and Smt. Ranu Bhattacharya, Commissioner (Disabilities) received His Excellence Governor of West Bengal Sri K.N. Tripathi. In the auditorium the Police Band welcomed His Excellence Governor of West Bengal by playing the tune of National Anthem. Shri Keshari Nath Tripathi, Honble Governor of West Bengal presided over the function and conferred the State Awards to 40 awardees in the categories of Best Employee with disability, Best Self-Employed, Role Model, Best Individual working for the cause of Disability, Best Sports person, Best Creative Adult and Child with disability, Best Institution providing inclusive education and Best Institution working for Persons with Disabilities etc. State Award ceremony was followed by cultural event by Persons with Disabilities.
Felicitation of Participants of felicitation of Sports persons and Coaches of Special Olympic World Games, USA, 2016 
Inauguration of Rojgar Mela at College Square, Kolkata on 4th December, 2016 Rojgar Mela was organised at College Square, Kolkata from 4th to 5th December, 2016. Rojgar Mela was inaugurated by Dr. (Smt.) Shashi Panja, HMOS (IC), CD, WD & SW Deptt.and Shri Debasish Kumar, Mayor-in-Council, Kolkata Municipal Corporation at 2.00 pm on 4th December. Smt. Ranu Bhattacharya, Commissioner (Disabilities) welcomed dignitaries, Employers from corporate Sector, Central/State Govt. Departments, participating NGOs and persons with Disabilities.
On the occasion Dr. (Smt.) Shashi Panja, HMOS (IC), CD, WD & SW Deptt. Deptt.and Shri Debasish Kumar, Mayor-in-Council, Kolkata Municipal Corporation released New Year Calendar published by Department of W&CD and SW for creating Awareness on Disability. On this occasion Disabled Friendly Durga Puja Awards, 2016 were also given away by Dr. (Smt.) Shashi Panja, HMOS (IC), CD, WD & SW Deptt. Deptt.and Shri Debasish Kumar, Mayor-in-Council, Kolkata Municipal Corporation
Job Fair for Persons with Disabilities was organized on 4th December and 5th December with the assistance of ACE & Vocational Rehabilitation Centre. The Directorate of Employment Exchange for the PwDs was requested to send the list of candidates for the Job Fair to appear before the companies requested to participate in the Job Fair. 215 PwDs attended the Job fair. The following companies attended the Job Fair on 4th & 5th December 2016 and short listed the following number of candidates for engagement / employment:
| Sl. No. | Name of Organization | No of Candidates short listed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Infotech | 56 |
| 2 | BMA Wealth Care | 12 |
| 3 | Aegis BPO | 20 |
| 4 | Café Coffee Day | 10 |
| 5 | Mohan Jute Mill | 08 |
| 6 | Jana Lakshmi | 25 |
| 7 | Ray Services | 11 |
| 8 | Intelenet | 04 |
| 9 | Tops & Safe | 11 |
| Total | 157 |
There were two big Pavilions for exhibiting disabilities relates materials and activities of various Departments of Central & State Govt. In the Central Govt. Pavilion National Institute for Locomotor Disability (NILD), NIVI, NIMH & NIHI took part and distributed awareness materials to visitors. In the State Govt. Pavilion Department of WCD & SW (its’ different wings) Education Deptt; P & RD Deptt. participated and displayed and distributed their awareness materials. 34 NGOs having Vocational Training Centre for PwDs participated in the Rojgar Mela with their products for exhibition and sale.
Panel discussion on various disabilities related issues were conducted wherein senior State/Central Government Officers, office bearer of NGOs and Parent Organisations took part. Persons with Disabilities from different walks of life were also invited to share their experiences and narrate their success stories. The panel discussions were so interesting that approximate 250 to 300 persons were always in front of the dias. All Penal Discussions were mentored by Sri Amit Das, CDPO, Entally ICDS, Project, Sri K. Chattopadhyaya, CDPO, Bhatpara, North 24 Parganas and Smt. Lina Bardhan, Secretary, Noble Mission.
Different NGOs took part in the cultural functions with solo song, group songs, one act drama, folk songs in between panel discussions. It was so interesting to the Persons with Disabilities and public in general, the audience stayed up to 8-00 p.m. till to its completion. Not only the PwD candidates, the other artists also came and participate in the programme on our request.
On the concluding day i.e. 5th December 2016 formal end of Mela was declared at 8-00 p.m. in presence of a good number of visitors
Almost all print and electronic media were invited to attend and cover the programme. Some electronics media such as DD Bangla, TARA TV, ETv etc. have already covered the programme. Mela was declared closed through formal vote of thanks to the Participating Agencies, Media, Kolkata Police, Sima Surakha Bal, KMC authority, Patents Organisations, NSS Volunteers, Kolkata Red Cross Society, Fire Brigade, CESC, Agencies supplied food items, Visitors, Persons with disabilities and all others who helped directly or indirectly to make the Rojgar Mela a Grand Success.
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