The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nipman Foundation and Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) to launch the Breaking Barriers Fellowship, a program designed to place young professionals across DEPwD offices to strengthen policy support and advance the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. The MoU was signed by Shri Ashish Thakare, Director, DEPwD; Shri Nipun Malhotra, Founder, Nipman Foundation; and Shri Rohit Kumar, Co-Founder, YLAC; in the presence of Shri Rajesh Agarwal, Secretary, DEPwD, and Ms. Manmeet Kaur Nanda, Additional Secretary, DEPwD.

Objective of Fellowship:

• Enhance capacity within DEPwD through professional support
• Provide fellows with mentorship and government experience
• Bring fresh perspectives to strengthen disability inclusion in policymaking

The collaboration will remain in force for one year, with provision for extension by mutual agreement. It emphasizes transparency, merit-based fellow selection, quarterly reporting, and confidentiality under the Official Secrets Act, 1923.

Through this Fellowship, DEPwD and its partners reaffirm their shared commitment to nurturing young leaders and advancing disability empowerment and inclusive governance in India.

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KV

(Release ID: 2158821)