Recipient: 15th NCPEDP-MPHASIS Universal Design Awards 2024

Received the 15th NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Award, 2024 [Jury Appreciation] for my research, advocacy, and campaign endeavours on the need for universal accessibility as an integral component for achieving disability-led and inclusive climate action, strategies, and plans (SDG 10 and 13) as we ‘build forward better’ to ensure we ‘leave no one behind’.

Stories of Impact - Making a Case for a Handbook on Combating Disability Stereotypes

Last year in 2023, when the Supreme Court of India launched the ‘Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes’ to assist judges and the legal community in identifying, understanding and combating stereotypes about women, The Sangyan, advocated for the need to formulate a similar ‘Handbook on Combating Disability Stereotypes’ and made representation to the Chief Justice of India in this regard. A year later, we’re elated to share that the Supreme Court of India has released a comprehensive ‘Handbook Concerning Persons with Disabilities’ covering chapters on the Law of Equality and Disability, Language and Disability, and Legal Framework. Onwards and upwards!

Hope this paves the way for accessible and inclusive ‘access to justice’ that ‘leaves no one behind’ and upholds the constitutional morality and civilizational values of “स्वस्तिप्रजाभ्यः परिपालयन्तां न्यायेन मार्गेण महीं महीशाः। गोब्राह्मणेभ्यः शुभमस्तु नित्यं लोकाः समस्ताः सुखिनो भवन्तु॥”. [English Translation: May the well-being of all people be protected By the powerful and mighty leaders be with law and justice. May the success be with all divinity and scholars, May all (samastāḥ) the worlds (lokāḥ) become (bhavantu) happy (sukhino).​ Hindi Translation: सभी लोगों की भलाई शक्तिशाली नेताओं द्वारा कानून और न्याय के साथ हो। सभी दिव्यांगों और विद्वानों के साथ सफलता बनी रहे और सारा संसार सुखी रहे।]