20/02/2026
The Office of Diversity & Inclusion at IIM Bangalore and The Association of People with Disability (APD, India) jointly convened Purple Manthan, a national dialogue marking a decade of the RPwD Act 2016 and advancing pathways for disability-inclusive development. Aligned with the theme for the World Day of Social Justice, ‘Empowering Inclusion: Bridging Gaps for Social Justice,’ the convening brought together policymakers, academia, practitioners, and civil society members to assess progress and accelerate multisectoral collaboration.
In the welcome address, Mr. Jacob Kurian, Honorary Secretary, APD, reflected on the RPwD Act 2016 as a milestone in India’s journey toward equality and underscored accessibility as the foundational condition for participation. Prof. Sourav Mukherji, Dean, Faculty, IIMB, highlighted the need for alignment in institutional capability, inclusive enterprise, and technology to scale access without diluting the mission.
In her Guest of Honor address, Mrs. Manmeet Nanda, Additional Secretary, DEPwD, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, emphasized administrative simplification, ecosystem convergence, and expanding pathways for skilling, employment, and entrepreneurship. She noted, “Disability need not be addressed as charity.”
The valedictory on ‘The Manthan: Key Takeaways & Way Forward’ session was led by Prof. Anil B. Suraj, Chairperson, Diversity & Inclusivity Committee and NSR Pre-doc, IIMB. A key milestone was the launch of a Resource Book on Accessibility in Educational Institutions, offering practical guidance to strengthen inclusive learning environments. The dialogue continued through thematic tracks on livelihoods, accessibility, and governance to translate commitments into measurable, system-level impact.
For more details: https://www.iimb.ac.in/node/14607
