The East Zone Regional Abilympics 2024 wrapped up at the Tata Steel Technical Institute in Jamshedpur, marking a momentous occasion for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) across the region. Organized by the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI), the event showcased the exceptional talents of 100 PwDs from the Eastern states of West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Odisha. Over the course of the event, participants displayed their skills across 15 vocational categories, ranging from Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to crafts, food services, and hospitality.
This edition of the East Zone Abilympics saw fierce competition and incredible displays of talent, with 16 participants winning medals: 4 Gold, 5 Silver, and 7 Bronze. The event underscored the importance of vocational skills in empowering PwDs and integrating them into the workforce.
In the ICT category, Chinmay Mandal from West Bengal secured the Gold in Word Processing, while Jyotirmayee Pradhan from Odisha clinched the Silver. The Photography competition saw Paras Mani Mandal take home the Gold, while Mukesh Kumar from Bihar won Silver for Data Processing.
The Crafts category highlighted the artistry and creativity of participants, with Shubhra Sinha from Bihar, who is Hearing Impaired, winning Silver in Painting. Vicky Sharma from Jharkhand and Rinki Kumari from Bihar earned Bronze medals in Painting and Embroidery, respectively.
In the Hospitality & Restaurant Services category, Nityanand from Odisha, who is also Hearing Impaired, won a Bronze medal, emerging from a pool of 25 talented participants.
The standout category was Tailoring & Dress Making, with seven PwDs being awarded Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals. Shamim Alam from Bihar won Gold in Tailoring, while fellow Bihar native Vinod Kumar took home the Silver. In Dress Making, local talent from Jamshedpur, Gulafshan Bano, won Gold, Yasin Ansari from Bihar secured Silver, and Kunti Kumar from Jamshedpur won Bronze.
Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Secretary General of the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI) and Founder & CEO of Sarthak Educational Trust, expressed his pride in the achievements of the participants, stating, “This year’s Abilympics has been a powerful testament to the talent and determination of PwDs across Eastern India. Their remarkable skills across diverse vocational categories reflect their capability and readiness for inclusion in the workforce.” He emphasized the importance of events like the Abilympics in breaking down societal barriers and promoting an inclusive workforce.
The event was inaugurated by Banna Gupta, Health Minister. Partners such as Tata Power (TPCDT), Tata Steel Foundation, IHCL, and the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment played a critical role in making the event a success. Their support reaffirmed the importance of vocational skills in empowering PwDs and helping them achieve self-reliance.
