Aasra 2023
January 29, 2023
SPJIMR DoCC hosted ‘Aasra: Building Inclusive Sensibilities’, its annual sports and cultural event for specially-abled children and adults, on January 29, 2023. This year, Aasra also welcomed senior citizens from various organisations. The 2023 edition brought together 10 NGOs working with specially-abled kids, adults and senior citizens and over 200 participants. The youngest participant was 7 years old, while the oldest was 70. The participating organisations included Aawhan Palak Sangh, Community Aid and Sponsorship Programme (Mumbai unit), Anirvedh Charitable Trust, Thane Group, KIMKAN, Parents of Downs Syndrome Association (PODS Mumbai), Rotary Sanskardham Academy for Children with Special Needs, Jai Vakeel Foundation, Helpage India, Adhata Trust, and Andhaksri Ashram.
The participants enjoyed the lively games and fun activities conducted by the SPJIMR participants of the DoCC and Sustainability Committee (DoSu). The event featured carefully curated sports activities such as leg and hand cricket, hit the target, 50 metres relay race, dodge ball, penalty shootout and balloon tapping. Participants competed in a friendly and supportive environment, embracing the inherent talents each one had within themselves. The grand cultural event for Aasra was flagged off by Prof. Chandrika Parmar, who explained the idea behind Aasra and the need for an inclusive environment.
The cultural segment of Aasra showcased the talents of people with disabilities in music, dance, and art. Their infectious excitement lit up the stage and mesmerised the audience with engaging performances. While the Aawhan Palak Sangh showcased the diverse cultures of India, the Jai Vakeel Foundation presented a patriotic act depicting the Indian soldiers at the border. The event ended with the medal distribution by the organising team to all the participants to convey the message that each one of them was a real winner.
Ms. Yojana from Kimkan Foundation said, “Initiatives like these create first-hand knowledge of how to integrate intellectual disability into the mainstream routine while providing a platform for the people with disabilities to present their talents to the world.” While Ms. Tanuja from Awahan Palak Sangh said, “Aasra was the platform that gave the PwDs an opportunity to enjoy themselves and celebrate the air of inclusivity and diversity.”
Expressing his views, Mayank Shekhar from the organising committee said, “Organising Aasra sensitised us to overcoming limitations, breaking down stereotypes, and being determined to live a fulfilling life despite challenges.” Echoing a similar sentiment, Nikita Philips, a PGDM student at SPJIMR, said, “We wanted to emphasise through Aasra that sports are for everyone. Each one of us has a talent within ourselves, and the only thing that distinguishes one individual from another is the passion within us to showcase it.”
Aasra 2023 was sponsored by Harsh Construction Pvt Ltd, Cent Bank Home Finance Ltd, Enertech Fuel Solutions Pvt Ltd, DLC Creation and Sai Shilp.
Aasra, meaning ‘support’, is an initiative dedicated to fostering an inclusive society. The DoCC office launched Aasra to contribute to sustainable futures by nurturing an inclusive mindset among SPJIMR stakeholders. Each year, the DoCC Sustainability Committee (DoSU) organise the event in collaboration with SPJIMR’s annual mega-sports fest, SPRINT.
Since its inception in 2018, Aasra has become an exemplar of inclusion, bringing together individuals from all walks of life to celebrate resilience, passion, and talent. With the active participation of SPJIMR students, Aasra continues to inspire and promote a society where everyone is celebrated and included.