The National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), a cross-disability advocacy organisation, in collaboration with Azim Premji Foundation, has announced the NCPEDP- Javed Abidi Fellowship on Disability. It is a three-year immersive grassroots fellowship programme for specially-abled youth having a keen interest in disability issues and looking to build a career in the development sector particularly Disability Rights and Inclusion.  

This year, NCPEDP observes its silver jubilee - 25 years of struggle for disability rights, inclusion and participation - by launching the fellowship programme for selected 25 youth with disabilities on 11th June, also marking the birth anniversary of one of the pioneers of the disability rights movement in India and NCPEDP’s former Director, Late Javed Abidi, whose vision was the inclusion of youth into the disability discourse. 

On the occasion, Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP, said, “Taking the legacy of Javed Bhai forward, who has inspired countless people like me, we are launching this prestigious fellowship to commemorate him and his contribution to NCPEDP and the disability movement. Also, given that we are amid the pandemic, people living with disabilities have been the worst affected. There is a struggle for food, access to basic healthcare, education and livelihood opportunities. The disability rights movement and inclusion of people with disabilities have been pushed back two decades! The fellows will help document such stories of struggle and good practices from all over the country to help build back better”. 

Neelima Karath, Lead for Persons with Disability at The Philanthropy added, “This fellowship will train 25 youth with a disability as leaders and will enable them to voice the issues of the community at decision-making platforms. Their research and work will lead to new narratives emerging from the grassroots which would guide the future of policy, advocacy and implementation in the disability ecosystem.”