With the initiative to raise awareness, the key landmarks in Delhi including Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament House, North and South Blocks, and India Gate has joined the ‘Act4Dyslexia’ campaign. The landmarks have been illuminated in red, the colour for Dyslexia Awareness. The campaign is being organised in collaboration with UNESCO Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP) & ChangeInkk Foundation, informed Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, PIB.
In India, it is estimated that about 20% of its population is affected by disabilities which includes 35 million students. Hence, the objective of the initiate is to raise awareness for early identification and providing necessary support and accommodations to students.
Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), and Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator of India officially announced the start of the campaign to magnify the inclusivity message. The campaign commenced on the morning of 27th October from Vijay Chowk to India Gate.
“This walk symbolises collective action to act for Dyslexia, emphasising the need for equal opportunities and support for individuals with learning disabilities,” it stated. It witnessed the participation of over 300 supporters. The walk was co-organized by ChangeInkk Foundation, UNESCO MGIEP, Orkids Foundation, and Soch Foundation.
On the occasion Rajesh Aggarwal expressed his joy over the initiative and stated that the campaign require more action to witness its progress. He noted the increase in participation of netizens whereby, in 2023 a total of 1,600 walks took place across the country. And in 2024, over 4 lakh people took part in the participation. He also expressed enthusiasm over the introduction of the Purple Flame Chatbot, which will help schools, teachers, doctors, and other stakeholders to diagnose and support people with learning disabilities. “The Government looks forward to working with like-minded organisations that support people with disabilities and ensure access to equal opportunities for growth and development,” he added.
Shombi Sharp also expressed enthusiasm over the campaign by providing an overview of the campaign and its activities. “It is incredible to see that when given equal opportunities, individuals with learning disabilities have achieved great success, including becoming inventors, Nobel laureates, and entrepreneurs. We need to truly unleash the potential of this talent for societal development, and if India can achieve this, it can deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals at a global level,” he noted.
The Act4Dyslexia campaign in 2024 has significantly expanded over 1,600 walks across the country—spanning State capitals, Districts, Blocks, Villages, and schools. The initiative engaged over 4 lakh participants, who collectively took over 2 billion steps toward driving awareness for ‘Act4Dyslexia’. These walks were led by State Education Departments, parent groups, and educational institutions, in collaboration with over 150 organizations, demonstrating a united effort by government bodies, parents, educators, civil society organizations, and the private sector, the Ministry stated.
The event aligns with similar illuminations across major cities, including Patna, Ranchi, Jaipur, Kohima, Shimla, and Mumbai, spotlighting the need to remove stigma and foster greater understanding of dyslexia and other learning disabilities.
