Delhi Gets ‘Manobal Centre’ to Train Differently-Abled, Orphans and Transgender Students for UPSC
Diapstambh Foundation Expands Free Residential Coaching to National Capital After Jalgaon and Pune Success
New Delhi, Aug 12: The Diapstambh Foundation’s Manobal Project Centre was inaugurated in Delhi on Monday evening, aiming to provide free residential coaching for UPSC and other competitive exams to differently-abled, orphaned, transgender, and economically disadvantaged students.
The centre, already running successfully in Jalgaon and Pune, will now extend its services to the national capital. The launch ceremony was held at the New Maharashtra Sadan auditorium on Kasturba Gandhi Marg.
High-Profile Inauguration
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan was the chief guest, joined by Union Minister of State for Sports Raksha Khadse, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, Diapstambh founder-director Yajurvendra Mahajan, and senior journalist Uday Nirgudkar.
Aggarwal noted that the past decade has seen significant strides in integrating differently-abled citizens into the mainstream, aided by changing mindsets in NGOs, government departments, and private institutions.
Ambitious Goal for Inclusivit
In his keynote, Mahajan declared that within 25 years, no differently-abled or transgender student should be denied higher education. He stressed the urgent need for tailored facilities and resources, pointing out that only 0.02% of such students currently pursue higher education.
The foundation’s vision is to ensure that by India’s centenary of independence, these communities will be represented at the forefront across sectors.
Honouring Achiever
The event also honoured differently-abled achievers in competitive exams, including:
Manu Garg (IAS), Ravi Raj (IRS), Ashwini Parkale (IPoS), Shritej Patel (IRMS), Sampada Wange, Puneet Gupta (IIM Udaipur), Tushar Chougule (Executive Engineer), Kavita Desale (MPSC), Rakesh Guha (Bank), Vishal Shelar (Cycling Gold Medallist), Veena (PSI), and Pratik Jindal (IDBI Bank).
Special recognition was given to senior advocate and newly elected Rajya Sabha MP Ujjwal Nikam. Student Mauli Adkar, who has no functional use of both hands, captivated the audience by playing “Saare Jahan Se Achha” on the harmonium.