NIP NGO Announces Differently Abled & Senior Citizen Friendly Durgotsab Award 2023 in Kolkata's Inclusive Durga Puja Campaign

Kolkata: In a heartwarming and inclusive initiative, NIP NGO, an Education & Cultural Centre for the Blind & other Differently Abled individuals, in collaboration with Forum for Durgotsab, Saini International School, Mamta Sumit Binani Foundation, and Rotary Club of Calcutta Old City, has announced the "Differently Abled & Senior Citizen Friendly Durgotsab Award 2023." This award recognizes the efforts of Durga Puja committees that have made their pandals accessible and friendly for senior citizens and individuals with disabilities. A total of 300 Durga Puja Committees will participate in this commendable endeavor.

The event took place at Hazra Park Durgotsab in Kolkata and included an "Onno Durga Awareness Campaign," a unique initiative to raise awareness about inclusivity. The campaign featured representations of Goddess Durga and Asur with visual impairments, a wheelchair-bound Lord Ganesh, and depictions of Goddesses Laxmi, Saraswati, and Kartik with intellectual disabilities. The goal is to emphasize that disability is a special ability that deserves recognition and inclusion in mainstream society, especially during the auspicious occasion of Durga Puja.

Eminent personalities, including Sri. Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, Minister of Agriculture, Govt of WB, and Sri. Tapan Pattanayak, CEO of Saini Group, graced the event. CS (Dr.) Adv. Mamta Binani, Chief Patron of NIP NGO & President of MSME Development Forum WB, expressed her vision for the event, saying, "This special ability needs to get its share of attention and inclusion in the mainstream." She also highlighted previous initiatives, such as the Braille Durga Puja Guide and Braille Display Stand for the visually impaired.

Sri. Sayan Deb Chatterjee, Joint Secretary of Hazra Park Durgotsab Committee, emphasized the importance of recognizing and catering to the needs of differently-abled individuals and senior citizens during Durga Puja, which is the biggest festival in West Bengal.

Sri. Tapan Pattanayak, CEO of Saini Group, commended NIP NGO for their noble cause and stressed the significance of making pandal-hopping and deity viewing accessible to everyone, especially those with disabilities.

NIP NGO has a rich history of supporting the blind and differently-abled. They were honored with the "STATE AWARD" in 2012 and have been actively organizing awareness camps, chess competitions, and cricket tournaments for the visually impaired in Kolkata and other districts of West Bengal, exemplifying their commitment to making a more inclusive society.