As part of the accessibility fortnight celebration leading up to the world accessibility day on March 27th, Svayam, an accessibility advocacy organization, in collaboration with the Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), New Delhi launched its sensitization campaign on March 8 at the college campus. This initiative is designed to drive awareness on accessibility and diversity & inclusion. Svayam plans to take the sensitization campaign to colleges and universities across different states, ensuring that accessibility becomes an integral part of educational institutions nationwide
The launch event witnessed enthusiastic participation from students and faculty through a series of engaging activities comprising competitions in speech, and street play (nukkad natak) along the theme of ‘Accessibility is a Human Right”. The campaign at SRCC, is the first step in Svayam’s broader plan to take the conversation on accessibility to educational institutions across India, aimed at highlighting the importance of creating inclusive spaces.
Human Chain activity and pledge was also undertaken by the students, reinforcing their commitment to fostering accessibility on campuses and beyond. Additionally, prizes were awarded to the winners of the speech competition and the outstanding Nukkad Natak performances by the talented students, sensitization videos and educational materials were also shared with faculty and participants to deepen their understanding of accessibility challenges and solutions.
Emphasizing the importance of engaging with students for lasting change, Ms. Sminu Jindal, Founder-Chairperson of Svayam said, “Colleges and universities reflect the most diverse sections of society, making them the ideal space to cultivate an environment where accessibility is valued. When students, faculty, and administrators engage in discussions around accessibility, they recognize it as an essential right. By collaborating with institutions and colleges like SRCC, which incidentally is also my alma mater, we hope to set a precedent for others to embrace accessibility measures and build campuses where every individual, regardless of ability, can thrive without barriers. When young minds integrate these values early, they carry them into workplaces, policymaking, and everyday life. This campaign is to raise awareness as well as to embed accessibility into the educational framework so that future generations inherit a world designed for all.”
Highlighting the larger role of institutions in driving social change, Rishabh Raj, Faculty, Political Science department, SRCC said, “It was inspiring to see students explore accessibility beyond disability, discussing human rights, social contracts, and equitable systems with depth and empathy. Such conversations are key to building a more inclusive society.”
Kavya Gupta, a student at the SRCC College who is also the President The Debating Society added: “The debate competition hosted by Svayam in collaboration with The Debating Society, SRCC was a powerful demonstration of turning our words into action. It took the very essence of what we often discuss in debate rooms—advocacy for change—and translated it into a concrete, impactful event focused on accessibility. As debaters, we are quick to advocate for justice, but this collaboration reminded us that true advocacy goes beyond speeches. By recognizing our privileges and using them to raise awareness and push for real change, this competition highlighted how we can actively contribute to solving the issues we often debate about, rather than just talking about it.”
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