In a groundbreaking undertaking to bring a sense of inclusivity and promote equal opportunities among people, Jamshedpur was the proud host of Jharkhand’s first-ever Purple Fair aimed at empowering and uplifting Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). The fair was conducted under the guidance of the Department of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development and involved a great deal of stakeholders, such as government bodies, NGOs, social workers, teachers, corporates, and above all, the representatives of the differently-abled community.
The phrase Purple Fair is influenced by the colour purple, a colour that raises awareness of persons with disabilities and their empowerment on a global front. The event aimed to bust the social stigmas and celebrate the talents, rights and aspirations of people with disabilities, as well as to place emphasis on ensuring that our society is accessible and inclusive.
The fair, which was conducted during the day, recorded an excessive attendance not only across the city but also in the surrounding districts. There was a lot of energy in the venue as the PwDs demonstrated their talents in other ways, by handicraft and artwork, and by performing music and dance, and drama. There were various stalls with products created by disabled artisans, in which one saw their creativity, skills, and the ability to be an entrepreneur.
The Awareness Pavilion was one of the main attractions of the event, where the awareness workshops and interactive sessions were organized to make participants aware of the rights of persons with disabilities, existing government schemes and the use of assistive technologies. The visitors were informed about the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the necessity of making public infrastructure, education, transport, and jobs accessible to a disabled person.
There were also medical teams that did free health check-ups and provided them with free disability certificates and showed accessibility devices such as wheelchairs, prosthetics, hearing aids, and tools that used Braille. Scientists proved it is possible through the use of technology to fill this gap and improve the living standards of people with disabilities.
Career counselling and job opportunities were also taken care of at the fair. In collaboration with the local industries and the HR consultants, the activities involved providing career guidance to the young PwDs and matching them with prospective employers. Workshops on building skills so that they would be self-reliant were done, and employment-ready capability was developed.
Addressing the gathering, a high-ranking officer of the Social Welfare Department said,
“This is not just a fair, it’s a movement. Jamshedpur is setting an example by making inclusivity a priority. Persons with disabilities are an integral part of our society, and this platform is our way of honoring their strength and contributions.”
Parents, caregivers and teachers appreciated the move and said that efforts like this not only create confidence among PwDs but also make people in the society more aware of their requirements. The ceremony ended with a music performance that was featured by a group of differently-abled students, which was accorded a standing ovation.
With the success of the Purple Fair, Jharkhand has achieved a milestone, and the plea was to give similar events in other districts of the state. Because Jamshedpur was on the frontline, the message that empowerment is all about visibility, awareness and presence of opportunities, which was best expressed in the colours of purple, became stronger.
