Anjali is a movement for an equal India. It is India's first and only International Children and Youth Festival which aims to bridge gaps for making society more inclusive and restore fun-filled childhood by joyful learning.

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What is unique about Anjali?

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1. Only national children festival in India.

2. It is an inclusive festival.

3. It is a model for joyful learning.

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Why Anjali?

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Dr Sruti Mohapatra joined the disability movement in 1996 with the formation of the DPI –India Chapter. She travelled extensively around the world and visited many schools, attended many conferences, spoke in many meetings and enriched herself on the issue of disability. What struck Sruti was the stark difference in the quality of life of persons with disabilities in India and South Asia as compared with other countries. Persons with Disabilities were second class citizens who lived to die. Persons with disabilities had no place in society. They were confined to rooms at homes, in urban areas in special schools or vocational training centres or buildings of various associations for the disabled; or to beds in hospitals. I said no more! I am as human as you are. 

 

Sruti’s first thought was children because children are our future. This situation has to change. Sruti’s friend, Manoj, was the first with whom she shared this idea. ‘Amazing…much needed.’ Sruti developed a concept for presentation to like-minded people and started talking to friends, well-wishers and organizations. Sruti’s first official meeting was with Sukanya. Why not…… how wonderful!’, was the response. The then (2001) Child Rights and Information Officer of UNICEF, Orissa Office, Ms Sukanya Rath is a lady of immense vision and dynamism. Enthusiastic and active, she said ‘let’s get going.' Sruti had known Sukanya since college. They were a group of young, bubbly people, who had founded GLASH, an amateur music group that had become the talk of the town in the 1980s. The next supporter was Mr R. Balakrishnan, then secretary, culture and tourism (GoO). Never before had she met a more sensitive and empathetic government officer. ‘Sruti we should have a world-class event, can you promise me that? That was all he said. And thus Anjali was born.

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