IIT Kanpur Marks Annual Day of CDAP, Fostering Inclusivity and Empowerment

IIT Kanpur celebrated the annual day of its Cell for Differently Abled Persons (CDAP), highlighting initiatives to empower differently-abled individuals. The event included the distribution of scholarships to five visually impaired students.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur observed the Annual Day of its Cell for Differently Abled Persons (CDAP), celebrating initiatives that empower differently-abled individuals. The event provided an inspiring platform for visually impaired participants, featuring impactful activities, motivational stories, and cultural performances. It began with a ceremonial lamp lighting by Prof. Manindra Agrawal, Director of IIT Kanpur; Vishwa Ranjan, Registrar; Prof. Anubha Goel, CDAP Coordinator; and the Chief Guest, Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh, an internationally acclaimed para swimmer.

The event's highlight was the inspirational story shared by Chief Guest Mohammad Shams Aalam Shaikh. He recounted his journey of overcoming the challenges of being paralyzed from the waist down at 24 due to a spinal tumor. Despite these obstacles, he earned a world ranking in swimming, becoming a symbol of resilience and determination.

A key highlight of the event was the distribution of scholarships to five visually impaired students from IIT Kanpur. Each scholarship, valued at INR 25,000, was generously provided by the Chennai-based Help the Blind Foundation (HTBF). Representing HTBF, Trustee Deepa Krishnamurthy and members, including Dr. Raka Ray Mandal and Prof. B.P. Mandal, joined virtually to discuss their scholarship initiative aimed at supporting deserving students. The scholarships were presented by Mohammad Shams Aalam and Prof. Siddharth Panda, members of CDAP.

In his keynote address, Prof. Manindra Agrawal emphasised the transformational role of the CDAP in nurturing an inclusive and supportive environment at IIT Kanpur. He shared his vision for further enhancing the cell’s initiatives and reiterated the institute’s commitment to empowering differently-abled individuals. Following this, Shri. Vishwa Ranjan reflected on his experiences at the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities, Dehradun, and commended the ongoing efforts of the CDAP in driving impactful initiatives.

Read More

• IIT Mandi and C-DOT Partner to Advance Semiconductor Chips for Wideband Spectrum Sensing
• IIT Kanpur Extends Registration Deadline for ‘Hack IITK 2024’ Cybersecurity Hackathon to Jan 17