Universal Design Awards conferred to 14 outstanding individuals and organisations | India News

NEW DELHI: The 13th edition of the NCPEDP-Mphasis Universal Design Awards, which seeks to galvanise efforts to create an enabling ecosystem for equal access for all, including the disabled, concluded on Wednesday.
A total of 14 innovators, spanned across eight states of India, were given awards at the event – for spreading awareness about Universal Design and for popularising the concept.
Odisha’s chess genius, Soundarya K Pradhan, who is 100% visually impaired said, “This felicitation is much more than a mere award – it is a giant leap forward in driving awareness on Universal Design.”
Arman Ali, Executive Director of National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), spelt out the mission for the unique award: “75 years after India’s independence, it’s time to step up efforts to ensure absolute freedom for the disabled. The Universal Design Awards is a definitive move forward to recognize and celebrate ideas and innovations that promote accessibility and universal design.”
As the Awards enter their 13th year this year, we sincerely hope that this is just the beginning in creating an inclusive world for persons with disabilities, where barriers to accessibility cease to exist,” added Ali.