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7th April, New Delhi – To foreground accessibility and inclusion as core themes of its annual Panghat Fest, Delhi College of Arts and Commerce (DCAC), a constituent college of the University of Delhi, partnered with Svayam for a two-day youth-led campaign on April 3rd and 4th. The two-day event welcomed students from 45 colleges from south, outer and north campuses, transforming the DCAC campus into a space for meaningful conversations by organizing different competitions like poster making, theaters, photography and others.
DCAC wanted to introduce accessibility as a lived concern through hands-on participation, creating a valuable opportunity to engage young minds, foster meaningful conversations, and promote experiential learning while raising awareness about inclusive infrastructure. Svayam organized a sensitization training session and set up a Stimulation Zone, enabling students, professors, and attendees to experience the challenges faced by people with reduced mobility, vision impairments, or other physical limitations. This initiative highlighted the need for accessible infrastructure, aiming to spark a more personal understanding of access barriers that often go unnoticed.
The initiative builds on Svayam’s Accessibility Awareness Fortnight, which ran from March 12 to 27. The fortnight included engagements at Delhi University’s SRCC and Hansraj College, with students and faculty participating in street plays, public speaking sessions, and a human chain activity around the theme ‘Accessibility is a Human Right’. The drive, launched on March 18, aimed at planting the seed for long-term awareness among young adults.
Sminu Jindal, Founder-Chairperson of Svayam, said, “We are heartened to see this movement grow — this year, for the first time, a leading university in Delhi declared the theme of its annual festival as Accessibility and Inclusivity, in direct support of the global call to recognize 27th March as World Accessibility Day. This is a landmark moment, a youth-led initiative amplifying the message that accessibility is everyone’s issue.”
Prof Rajiv Chopra, Principal, Delhi College of Arts and Commerce added, “Accessibility isn’t a separate issue, it affects how inclusive our campuses, streets, and cities truly are. This year’s Panghat gave us a chance to explore that through music, theatre, and interaction. Partnering with Svayam made it possible to turn student energy into something more purposeful.”
Additionally, Dr. Shilpa Chowdhary, Convener Cultural Committee said “This year, Panghat, our annual two-day festival at DCAC, takes a meaningful turn by embracing accessibility and inclusivity as its theme. In collaboration with Svayam, we aim to raise awareness and foster a more inclusive environment for all. We extend our gratitude to Team Svayam for their unwavering support in spreading this message among students, professors, and attendees. Accessibility and inclusivity are essential for a progressive society, and through Panghat 2025, we emphasize that true growth is only possible when everyone is empowered to participate”
The event sparked fresh conversations on accessibility and the need for accessible infrastructure among the students and attendees. The event concluded with a pledge by students showing their support towards accessibility with great fervor.
