Empowering Inclusivity: Special Olympic Games for Divyangjan and Voter Awareness Initiatives by Department of Social Welfare

The Department of Social Welfare, in collaboration with Rotary Chandigarh, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, and Special Bharat Olympics, orchestrated a three-day Special Olympic Games for Divyangjan at Punjab University Chandigarh from December 11th to 13th, 2023. With 177 athletes from North zone states participating, the event aimed to foster a sense of sportsmanship and inclusivity.

Led by Chief Electoral Officer, U.T. Chandigarh, the department also set up stalls to raise awareness about Welfare Schemes and the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation program (SVEEP). The initiative, themed ‘No Voter To Be Left Behind,’ targeted differently-abled individuals, emphasizing their inclusive registration as voters. Recognizing the unique needs of this demographic, the department actively engaged in enrolling young Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) as voters and educating them on the voting process, facilities available for PwDs during elections, and the usage of VVPAT machines, especially for first-time voters in the upcoming Lok Sabha Election-2024.