NEW DELHI — The Saksham Students Forum (SSF) successfully hosted its launching event, the Divyang Yuva Shakti Sammelan, at Vigyan Bhawan. Held under the empowering banner of “Sashakt Divyang, Sashakt Bharat”, the summit brought together hundreds of students, academicians, and policymakers to chart the future of inclusion in India. The newly launched SSF serves as a premier student-led organisation dedicated to the advocacy, welfare, and holistic development of students with disabilities, striving to foster an environment of equality, accessibility, and dignity across educational institutions.
The summit was inaugurated by Prof. Dayal Singh Pawar (Rashtriya Adhyaksh, Saksham), who reflected on the organisation’s journey since its inception in 2008, noting its expansion to nine dedicated Divyang Centres in Delhi alone. Addressing the gathering, Shree Ravinder Indraj (Cabinet Minister, Delhi Government) stated that disability transcends barriers and cannot stop determined individuals from achieving their goals. Both leaders emphasized the unwavering commitment of the government and educational institutions to make public life and education completely accessible for disabled citizens through platforms like the SSF.
The first session featured prominent voices championing youth empowerment. Prof. Madan Mohan Tripathy (Director-General, NIELIT) addressed the crowd on the critical role the youth play in driving societal change. Miss Madhavi Hans (Para-Shooting Champion) delivered a highly inspiring talk on how she crossed immense hurdles to achieve greatness in sports, deeply motivating the hundreds of Divyang students in the audience. A major highlight of the session was the special felicitation of international-level para-athletes, honoring their resilience and exceptional achievements on the global stage. Following this, the eminent speakers officially launched the Saksham Students Forum (SSF) Logo, marking the formal beginning of the student body and its mission to empower the next generation of leaders.
The second session focused on institutional backing and academic integration. Sr. Prof. Rekha Saxena (HoD, Department of Political Science) stated powerfully that the vision of a Viksit Bharat (Developed India) is incomplete without the inclusion and empowerment of the Divyang community. Prof. Geeta Bhatt (Director, NCWEB) extended her full institutional support, promising the SSF that NCWEB stands ready to assist their initiatives. Dr. Amit Kumar (Delhi Prant Adhyaksh, Saksham) welcomed the new forum, describing the SSF as a proud “new feather in the cap of SAKSHAM” that will bridge the gap between students and administrative resources.
The event concluded with insightful remarks from Shree Chandrashekar (Rashtriya Sangathan Mantri, Saksham), who imparted valuable life teachings and inspired the students to lead with confidence. To close the successful summit, the official SSF Team was declared, formally empowering student leaders to take charge of the forum’s future initiatives and ensure that the voices of students with disabilities are heard and represented at every level of academia.
