Purple Fest 2025, a national-level festival showcasing creativity, rights, accessibility, entrepreneurship, and cultural diversity of Divyangjan was held from 10–11 September 2025.
Key Features of Purple Fest 2025
- Organisers:
- Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC), New Delhi
- In collaboration with Amity University, Noida (Uttar Pradesh)
- Theme for Purple Fest 2025: Celebrating inclusion, dignity, and empowerment of persons with disabilities (Divyangjan).
- Art & Craft Exhibition – Display of handicrafts and products created by Divyangjan artisans.
- Entrepreneurship Stalls (22 stalls) – Platforms for Divyangjan-led businesses and startups.
- Cultural & Sports Events – To promote inclusivity, visibility, and representation.
- Continuing Rehabilitation Education (CRE) Programmes – Focus on Indian Sign Language (ISL), professional training, and capacity building.
- Recognition:
- Certificate of Appreciation awarded to Ms. Gurdeep Kaur Vasu, the first deafblind Indian to secure a government job under the multiple disability category.
Significance
- Purple Fest 2025 reinforced the message:
- Disability is not a weakness.
- Assistive devices are not charity.
- Respect is not a favour—it is a right.
- Purple Colour Symbolism: Equality, dignity, empowerment, and confidence.
- Promotes inclusive growth in line with Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan) and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
- Purple Fest (Goa): The first Purple Fest was held in January 2023 in Goa, making it India’s first inclusive festival for persons with disabilities.
About Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre (ISLRTC)
- Established: 2011
- Status: Autonomous body under Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE).
- Functions:
- Promotes Indian Sign Language (ISL).
- Conducts research, develops manpower, and offers training programmes.
- Plays a key role in standardising ISL and publishing training material.
Legal & Policy Framework for Divyangjan
- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act): Expands recognised disabilities from 7 to 21 categories. RPwD Act, 2016 Provides for equal opportunities, rights, and full participation of persons with disabilities.
- Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan): National initiative for universal accessibility in built environment, ICT, and transport.
- Reservation: 4% reservation in government jobs and 5% in higher education institutions for persons with benchmark disabilities.
- Key Ministry: Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MoSJE).
India’s Commitments
- UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD): Ratified by India in 2007.
- Divyangjan population in India (Census 2011): ~2.68 crore (2.21% of total population).