𝘎𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘳 𝘙 𝘕 𝘙𝘢𝘷𝘪 𝘐𝘯𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩 𝘡𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘙𝘦𝘨𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘈𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘺𝘮𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘴 & 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 2025 𝘢𝘵 𝘐𝘐𝘛 𝘔𝘢𝘥𝘳𝘢𝘴

• With 300+ PwDs from 6 States, NAAI's South Zone Abilympics in Chennai to Drive Vocational Skills and Job Linkages

Chennai, June 20 2025 - The city of Chennai is set to spotlight the power of inclusion and talent as it hosts the South Zone Regional Abilympics and Conference 2025 on June 20-21 at IIT Madras. Organised by the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI) in collaboration with Sarthak Educational Trust, the event is expected to welcome over 300 Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) from across 6 southern states-Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry. Supported by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPWD), Government of India, along with TPCDT and Indusind Bank, the initiative challenges conventional perceptions of disability-reframing it as a source of talent, resilience, and unrecognised potential.

Under the national theme "Road to Finland 2027: Empowering Skills, Enabling Inclusion"- the event will feature vocational skill competitions in over 30 categories, including 15 newly introduced trades like Baking, Hairdressing, fashion Technology, Hotel Reception, Childcare, and Massage Therapy. These additions reflect emerging employment opportunities and are aimed at expanding livelihood prospects for the disabled community. Part of a larger nationwide initiative leading up to the 11th International Abilympics in Finland (2027), the South Zone edition will feature vocational skill competitions in over 30 categories-including 15 newly introduced. These categories reflect the shifting employment landscape and are designed to boost the employability and economic independence of PwDs. The event captures the spirit of the nationwide movement to promote skill-based empowerment and global representation for Persons with Disabilities.

Event Youtube Video link 👇 

The prestigious event will be graced by Shri R.N. Ravi, Hon'ble Governor of Tamil Nadu, as Chief Guest, adding a powerful voice to the growing national movement for disability rights and skill-based inclusion. A major highlight on Day 1 is the Inclusive Job Fair, where top corporates will directly engage with skilled PwD candidates. "This job fair isn't just about placement-it's about potential," said Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Secretary-General of NAAI and Founder & CEO of Sarthak Educational Trust. 

"We're not just showcasing skills we're mapping them to real jobs, shifting the narrative from charity to capability, from sympathy to strategy. From focused skills to job mapping and live recruitment, this platform is more than a competition-it's a launchpad for dignity, employment, and pride as it is builds pathway to real careers and an inclusive workforce". He added, "Chennai and the South Zone have long stood for education, innovation, and progress. The South Zone Abilympics is our effort to unlock new pathways to dignity, employment, and pride for the disabled community. With Pwüs forming over 5% of India's population, skilling and employment are not just important-they're imperative. By hosting the South Zone Abilympics here, we are leveraging that spirit to unlock opportunities for hundreds of talented individuals with disabilities. 

As we celebrate various Abilympic achievements of PWDs, we remain focused on our core mission of empowering 10 million PwDs and ensuring sustainabie employment opportunities for over 0.2 million individuais across india by 2027," Aggarwal added. The two-day Regional Abilympics & Conference 2025 in Chennai will feature a powerful lineup of panels focused on innovation, policy, partnerships, and lived experiences. The event in Chennai promises two impactful days of dialogue, innovation, and inspiration. On Day 1 (June 20), the focus will be on assistive technologies, inclusive policies, corporate leadership, and real-life stories of PWD achievers-highlighting how collaboration across sectors can drive meaningful change. Day 2 (June 21) will shift to building a future-ready skilling ecosystem, with NGOs, mentors, and partners sharing insights on preparing Persons with Disabilities for national and international platforms like Abilympics Finland 2027.

Together, the sessions will spotlight the power of skills, inclusion, and resilience in transforming lives. The two-day event will conclude with a Valedictory Ceremony & Awards Presentation on June 21 at 11:30 AM onwards, celebrating the achievements of Abilympics winners, honouring jury members and volunteers, and acknowledging the contributions of key partners who made the South Zone edition a success. This regional round builds on the success of Phase 1 of the National Abilympics earlier this year and is part of Phase 2, which expands into newer categories and deeper regional engagement. Chennai's hosting marks a key milestone in India's roadmap to Finland 2027, providing a dynamic platform for PwDs to exhibit their potential and for society to recognize their abilities over disabilities.

Aligned with the National Action Plan for Skill Development of Persons with Disabilities (NAP-SDP), the Abilympics movement led by NAAI focuses on customised skill development, recognition of prior learning, and accessible training. This mission is further strengthened by Sarthak's GyanSarathi portal-India's first-of-its-kind e-learning platform for PwDs-ensuring scalable, flexible, and inclusive access to vocational skilling and employment pathways.

Following Chennai, NAAI will continue its zonal outreach with a series of regional events across India. The West Zone competition will be held on July 4-5 at the World Trade Centre, Mumbai, followed by the North Zone on August 1-2 at the Atal Convention Centre, Lucknow, and the East & Northeast Zone on August 22-23 at Kalakshetra, Guwahati. Winners from each zone will qualify for the National Abilympics to be held on 14-15 November 2025 at GRC Gurugram, where the best talents will be selected to represent Team India at the 11th International Abilympics in Finland in 2027-putting India's inclusive skill power on the global map.

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