On 20th August 2025, the Centre for disability Research and Training [CDRT] , Kirori Mal College in collaboration with Score Foundation launched Project Samaavesh: an endeavour aimed towards the inclusion of visually impaired students within the educational mainstream. At the heart of this project lies the establishment samavesh eyeway help desks, with the provision of in person and remote guidance and access to eduction resources. The chief guest of the event, Shri Rajesh Agrawal, Secretary of the Department of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justices and Empowerment. In his inaugural address, lauded this effort and laid stress on the need to create within the campuses across the country an accessible and inclusive ecosystem based on the principles of equity and social justice.
Prof. Dinesh Khattar, Principal Kirori Mal College, Sir George Abraham CEO of Score Foundation and Prof. Someshwar Sati coordinator, CDRT inaugurated the event by lighting the ceremonial lamp. The Samaavesh Project is a joint initiative to assist and facilitate the inclusion of visually impaired students through dedicated helpdesks. The endeavour is to assist students with disabilities by providing customized solutions to their specific educational needs. The project also strives to create an inclusive ecosystem by organising sensitisation campaigns that will help society at large to foster feelings of empathy and support towards the disabled community. The launch was attended by over 70 visually impaired students from various colleges across University of Delhi.
Prof. Someshwar Sati in his address talked about the need to change individual perspectives towards the disabled world saying that Nazariya badalne se to nazara bhi badal jayega.
This was followed by a panel discussion moderated by George Abraham in which various aspects of the inclusion of the students with blindness and low vision were touched upon. While Mr. Praveen Prakash Ambhastha, Deputy Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and Chief Vigilance Officer, talked about the legal facilities provided to persons with disabilities by the government and the various measures it has taken to empower people with disabilities. Dr. Pankaj Thakur from NIEPVD Dehradun enumerated the various kinds of resources and support made available to students with disabilities by the government. Ms.Sarita Chand, founder of Indic AI outlined the various career opportunities provided to persons with disabilities and underscored the pressing urgency of making the corporate world more accessible as to foster the talents of disabled individuals. The panel concluded with a presentation by Dr Arti Chanaana from the Saksham who elaborated on the project Aarohan carried out in collaboration with CDRT since 2021. She described the establishment of the helpdesk as a welcome new addition to an already ongoing process of inclusion on the campus of Kirori Mal College. The launching of Project Samaavesh will prove to be a milestone in the centres’ effort to create accessible and inclusive spaces across institutions of higher learning. As principal Dinesh Khattar said that there may be limits on sight but not on vision. He added that inclusion is not a matter of privilege, it is a right. CDRT soon plans to include people with other kinds of disability within the ambit of its inclusive educational programme.
