New Delhi: The sixth Nipman Foundation Equal Opportunity Awards, which recognise organisations that employ people with disabilities, will be announced and presented Wednesday.
Instituted in 2014, the awards commemorate individuals who have made a significant contribution to several categories, including innovation in technology and non-technology, employment, and inclusive schools and integrated schools. The awards also recognise entrepreneurs and professionals with disability. More than 219 applications were received across seven categories this year.
This year’s awardees have been selected by an independent jury chaired by Dr Shamika Ravi, director of research, Brookings India and a former member of the PM’s Economic Advisory Council. NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant will be present as chief guest.
In the past, the event has been chaired by Dr S.Y. Quraishi, former chief election commissioner, Dr Rajiv Kumar, NITI Aayong vice-chairman, and Stuti Kacker, founder secretary, Department of Disability Affairs.
The Nipman Foundation was started by Nipun Malhotra and his mother Priyanka Malhotra, a trained accessibility auditor. Nipman said his decision came from having been discriminated against by hiring firms on account of his disability.
“Most persons with disabilities don’t have the kind of resources I was fortunate to have been born into,” he once said. Nipun has arthrogryposis, a rare congenital disorder causing joint contracture that has left him wheelchair-bound.
Wednesday’s awards ceremony will see Nipun moderate a session on ‘Technology and Accessibility’ with Hector Minto, senior technology evangelist EMEA, Microsoft, and Clint Covington, principal programme manager, Microsoft Redmond. ThePrint is a digital partner for the event.