| News Details |
| Pre celebration of international Anjali festival 2025 organised at Zaiba Aapa institute | |
Bijbehara (Anantnag),October 21 (Scoop News)-The pre-celebration of the Silver Jubilee of the Anjali Festival took place today, 20 October 2025, at Zaiba Aapa Institute of Inclusive Education, Bijbehara (Kashmir). The event was hosted by Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline (HWOH), the Jammu & Kashmir partner of Anjali festival , which organizes the Anjali International Children and Youth Festival in Bhubaneswar every year. This year marks the 25th anniversary of Anjali, to be inaugurated officially on 13 November 2025 at Bhubaneswar under the leadership of Dr. Sruti Mohapatra, the founder of Swaabhiman and visionary behind the festival.
Inaugural Session by Javed Ahmad Tak
The inaugural session was presided over by Javed Ahmad Tak, prominent disability rights activist and founder of HWOH Bijbehara. He outlined the journey of Anjali Festival, started in 2001 by Dr. Sruti Mohapatra after she sustained a spinal cord injury that transformed her path from civil service to disability rights advocacy. Since then, Anjali has evolved from a local inclusion initiative to India’s only international children’s festival focusing on inclusion, equality, and creativity among children with and without disabilities.
Tak recalled that HWOH first joined Anjali in 2003, and during COVID-19, it hosted virtual regional celebrations in Jammu & Kashmir. He emphasized the importance of strengthening this year’s festival to highlight the capabilities and creative expression of children with disabilities from both divisions of Jammu and Kashmir.
*Participation and Educational Awareness*
The event saw participation of around 200 children with disabilities representing Anantnag, Kulgam, Shopian, and Pulwama districts. Activities included painting, educational games, and cultural performances. In the concluding session, an awareness drive about the upcoming census was conducted, stressing the importance of registering children and persons with disabilities to ensure accurate representation in policy planning.
*Legal Awareness Session*
Meema Rashid and Niefia Khursheed led an informative session covering major disability laws:
UNCRPD (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities)
Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
National Trust Act, 1999
Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 2000Mental Health Act, 1984
They highlighted that such legislations exist to address discrimination and promote equal opportunities in education, employment, and accessibility.Conclusion and Vote of Thanks.
In the concluding remarks, speakers noted that organizations like Swaabhiman (Odisha) and HWOH (J&K) are central to the progress of the disability rights movement in India.
Aadil Rasheed Vaid presented the vote of thanks, announcing that Humanity Welfare Organization Helpline, along with students with diverse disabilities from Jammu and Kashmir, will participate in the Silver Jubilee International Anjali Children’s Festival in Bhubaneswar this November under the leadership of Javed Ahmad Tak
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