**Executive Summary**
An international conference on "Inclusive Education from the Perspective of Disability and Research" was held in Pune on January 7, 2026. The conference was a joint effort by the National Convention of Educators of the Deaf (NCED) Maharashtra Chapter and the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (AYJNISHD), Mumbai. The conference focused on advancing inclusive education through research and policy, with emphasis on teachers' pivotal role and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Conference Overview:**
* The conference was held on January 7, 2026, at Fergusson College, Pune.
* Jointly organized by NCED Maharashtra Chapter and AYJNISHD, Mumbai.
* Focused on inclusive education and disability research.
* Approximate participation of 350 delegates.
* **Keynote Addresses:**
* Shri. Tukaram Mundhe emphasized early intervention, research-driven policy, teacher's role, systemic collaboration, and the importance of the RPwD Act 2016.
* Dr. Suman Kumar discussed Government of India's initiatives in disability and inclusive education.
* Dr. Avinash Wachasunder addressed contemporary perspectives and challenges in inclusive education.
* **Core Themes:**
* Inclusive education advancement through research.
* The critical role of teachers in implementing inclusive policies.
* Importance of parental involvement.
* Advancement of inclusive education through research, collaboration, and rights-based approaches.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Educators**
* **Impact:** The conference emphasized the pivotal role of teachers as agents of change in translating inclusive policies into classroom practice.
* **Action Required:** Implement inclusive policies, engage in systemic collaboration, and utilize research-informed practices to enhance inclusive education.
**Stakeholder: Policymakers**
* **Impact:** The conference highlighted the need for research-informed policies and the effective operationalization of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.
* **Action Required:** Develop and implement policies based on rigorous research and ensure compliance with the RPwD Act 2016.
**Stakeholder: Parents**
* **Impact:** The conference recognized parents as proactive stakeholders in the educational and rehabilitation continuum.
* **Action Required:** Actively engage in their children's education and collaborate with educators and other stakeholders.
**Stakeholder: Persons with disabilities**
* **Impact:** The conference reaffirms a shared resolve to advance inclusive education through rights-based, research-informed, and collaboratively governed paradigms aimed at the holistic empowerment and social inclusion of persons with disabilities.
* **Action Required:** There were no explicit actions mentioned for persons with disabilities in the document. However, indirectly, their input may be needed in inclusive policy design.
Key Entities Referenced
Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016: A key legislation referenced concerning the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment: The government ministry with responsibilities regarding disability welfare, likely the primary driver for related policies.
Pune: The city where the International conference for Divyangjans was held; impacts conference scope.
Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities (AYJNISHD): A national institute of speech and hearing disabilities, co-organized the International conference.
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
International conference for Divyangjans held in
Pune
प्रव तथ: 08 JAN 2026 6:50PM by PIB Mumbai
Mumbai : 8 January 2026
An International conference on the topic of 'Inclusive Education from the Perspective
of Disability and Research' was held on wednesday (Jan 7), at Fergusson College in
Pune, jointly by the National Convention of Educators of the Deaf (NCED)
Maharashtra Chapter and the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and
Hearing Disabilities (AYJNISHD), Mumbai.
Shri. Tukaram Mundhe, Secretary of the Maharashtra Department of Disability
Welfare, was present as the chief guest at the inauguration of this conference.
In this session, Shri Tukaram Mundhe emphasized the intellectual depth and
strategic foresight. He articulated the critical centrality of early identification and
early intervention, characterizing them as indispensable cornerstones for facilitating
optimal developmental trajectories and life outcomes for persons with disabilities.
Stressing the primacy of rigorous, empirical, and evidence-driven research, headvocated for research-informed policy articulation and praxis as catalytic
instruments in the evolution and sustenance of inclusive education ecosystems. Shri
Mundhe expounded upon the pivotal, catalytic, and transformative role of teachers,
portraying them as the principal change agents responsible for translating inclusive
policies and legislative intent into authentic, context-responsive classroom realities.
He emphasized the urgent necessity for systemic collaboration, institutional
convergence, and robust inter-sectoral coordination, underpinned by clearly
delineated accountability frameworks, outcome-oriented mechanisms, and
transparent, responsive governance structures. Further, Shri Mundhe highlighted the
overarching imperatives of universal accessibility, equity, and social justice, with
explicit reference to the effective operationalization of the Rights of Persons with
Disabilities (RPwD) Act 2016, constitutional guarantees, and allied statutory
mandates. The address also highlighted the integral role of parents as proactive
stakeholders and co-constructors within the educational and rehabilitation
continuum. In addition, Shri Mundhe emphasized the strategic deployment of
technology-enabled interventions, the systematic formulation and implementation of
Standard Operating Procedures, and sustained, participatory engagement of all
stakeholders to ensure coherence, quality assurance, and accountability in service
delivery systems.
During the inaugural session, Dr. Suman Kumar, Director, AYJNISHD (D), Mumbai,
deliberated on the initiatives of the Government of India in the domain of disability
and inclusive education, with particular emphasis on the evolving and multifaceted
role of teachers in implementing these initiatives at the grassroots level. Dr. Avinash
Wachasunder addressed the gathering on contemporary perspectives and emerging
challenges within the inclusive education landscape. The inaugural session was
further dignified by the presence of esteemed dignitaries including Dr. Meera
Suresh, Mrs. Shubhada Burde, Dr. Gayatri Ahuja, and Mrs. Shilpi Narang. On this
occasion, souvenir of the conference was released, symbolizing the collective
academic vision and commitment of the organizing institutions towards advancing
inclusive education through research and praxis.
The inaugural address set an intellectually, policy-relevant, and ethically grounded
tone for the conference, reaffirming a shared resolve to advance inclusive education
through rights-based, research-informed, and collaboratively governed paradigms
aimed at the holistic empowerment and social inclusion of persons with disabilities.
The event recorded the participation of approximately 350 delegates, encompassing
distinguished academicians, researchers, policymakers, rehabilitation professionals,
educators, and students representing a wide spectrum of interdisciplinary domains.
PIB Mumbai | Sriyanka Chatterjee/Nitin Fulluke/Priti Malandkar
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इस वज्ञ को इन भाषाओ ंम पढ़: Marathi