Report on Observance of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3rd December, 2017 at Calcutta University Institute Hall, Kolkata and Rojgar Mela on 4th – 5th December, 2017 at College Square, KolkataGovt. of West Bengal, Department of Women & Child Development and Social Welfare observed International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3rd December, 2017. On this occasion ‘Walk’ for creating public awareness on various aspects of disability was organized on 3rd December, 2017 which was flagged of by Sri Biswanath Charkraborty, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, West Bengal from College Square Gate on Bankim Chatterjee Street at 1.30 pm. Around 450 persons with disabilities, NGO representatives, parents took part in the walk.
State Award function was held on 3rd December, 2017 at Calcutta University Institute Hall, Kolkata from 4.30 pm to 7.10 pm. Dr. (Smt.) Shashi Panja, Hon’ble MOS (IC), W&CD & SW Deptt., Smt. Sangamitra Ghosh, Secretary, W&CD & SW Deptt, Sri H. Mohan Gandhi, Distrit Magistrate, Birbhum and Sri Biswanath Chakraborty, State Commissioner (Disabilities) were present in the function. Dr. (Smt.) Shashi Panja, Hon’ble MOS (IC), W&CD & SW Deptt., presided over the function and conferred the State Awards to 40 awardees in the categories of Outstanding Employee with disability, Outstanding Self-Employed, Outstanding Employer, Role Model, outstanding Individual working for the cause of Disability, Outstanding Sports person, Outstanding Creative Adult & Child with disability, Outstanding Institution providing inclusive education, Outstanding Institution working for Persons with Disabilities, Outstanding Parents’ Organisation and Outstanding creation of Barrier Free Environment for PwDs etc. State Award ceremony was followed by cultural event by Persons with Disabilities.
Dr. (Smt.) Shashi Panja, Hon’ble MOS (IC), W & CD & SW Deptt. Deptt. gave away the Disabled Friendly Durga Puja Awards, 2017 to the winners viz. Dhakuria Saravjanin Durgostav Committee (first), Kashi Bose Lane (second) and Sanghatirtha (third) in the State Award Function :
Annual compendium “SHPURAN” published by Department of W & CD & SW was released by Dr. (Smt.) Shashi Panja, Hon’ble MOS (IC), W & CD & SW Deptt. and other dignitaries on the dais.
Rojgar Mela was organised at College Square, Kolkata from 4th to 5th December, 2017. Rojgar Mela was inaugurated by Sri Biswanath Chakraborty State Commissioner (Disabilities) and Smt. Swapana Das, Hon’ble Councilor, Ward No. 40, Kolkata Municipal Corporation at 1.00 pm on 4th December. Sri Biswanath Chakraborty State Commissioner (Disabilities) welcomed the Employers from corporate Sector, Central/State Govt. Departments, participating NGOs and persons with Disabilities.
Job Fair for Persons with Disabilities was organized on 4th December and 5th December with the assistance of ACE Social Foundation, Sarthak Educational trust and Orion Edutech. The 329 PwDs attended the Job fair on both the days. The following companies attended the Job Fair on 4th & 5th December 2017 and short listed the following number of candidates for employment:
| Sl. No. | Name of Organization | No of Candidates short listed |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ben Infotech | 20 |
| 2 | Big Bazar | 20 |
| 3 | Kochar Tech | 00 |
| 4 | Café Coffee Day | 03 |
| 5 | Secure Tech Solutions | 04 |
| 6 | Third eye securities | 00 |
| 7 | Ray Services | 08 |
| 8 | KFC | 05 |
| 9 | Top N Safe | 50 |
| 10 | Crowd Sourcing | 47 |
| 11 | Insure First | 13 |
| 12 | Aegis | 09 |
| Total | 179 |
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, NIID & NISHI 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. 40 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 dais. 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 play, 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.
On the concluding day i.e. 5th December 2017 formal end of Mela was declared at 8-00 p.m. in presence of a good number of visitors.
Print and Electronic Media were invited to attend and cover the programme. Print & Electronics media such as DD Bangla, TARA TV, Salam Dunia, Kalom, Khabar 365, Bartman etc. covered the programme. Mela was declared closed through formal vote of thanks on behalf of the W & CD & SW Deptt. to the Participating Departments of Govt. of West Bengal, Corporate Agencies, Media, Kolkata Police, KMC authority, Patents Organisations’, NGOs, NSS Volunteers, NGO Volunteers, Arun Sign Pvt. Ltd., 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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