100 youth with disabilities from 18 countries participating in ‘Global IT challenge’

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : Around 100 youth with disabilities (visual disability, hearing disability, locomotor disability and intellectual disability/developmental disorder) from 18 countries: India, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mongolia, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Korea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, UK and UAE, are participating in the “Global IT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities, 2018” here.

This three- day event was inaugurated by the Minister of State for Social Justice & Empowerment, Krishan Pal Gurjar, on November 9, 2018. It has been organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in association with Rehabilitation International Korea and their associated partner LG Electronics from November 9 to November 11, 2018. The award ceremony of the event will be held on November 11, 2018.                                                                                                     

The individual competition on e-tool and e-life mapping was held on November 9 and the group competition event was completed on November 10. Alongside the IT challenge competitions another parallel programme namely IT Forum was also organised to showcase the best practices followed by various participating countries regarding use of ICT for enhancing empowerment of persons with disabilities.

On November 10, a cultural evening programme was organised by Government of India in honour of the participating youth with disabilities and other representatives from various countries followed by Gala Dinner. Performance by youth students with disabilities from National Institute of Empowerment of Visual Disabilities, Amar Jyoti Charitable Trust, ALPANA and Balwantray Mehta Inclusive School enthralled the audience in the cultural programme. Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot, Secretary, DEPwD, Shakuntala D Gamlin,  Ambassador/High Commissioner from some of the participating countries, senior Union Government officials and officials from Rehabilitation International Korea graced this occasion.

The objective of the Global ICT Challenge for Youth with Disabilities is to leverage IT skills among youth with disabilities and also to spread awareness about the application of Information and Computer Technology (ICT) in enhancing the quality of life of persons with disabilities especially in Asia-Pacific region.

India has nominated twelve youth with disabilities to participate in the event. These youth with disabilities have been selected on the basis of the National IT Challenge conducted by the Ministry through NIT, Kurukshetra, in June, 2018. India has been participating in the event since 2013 and has been winning awards ever since. Last year the event was held in Vietnam, according to a PIB release.