On April 2, 2025, the Lok Seva Bhavan in Bhubaneswar hosted the National Convention on Autism in observance of World Autism Awareness Day. The event was organized by the Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) in collaboration with the Institute of Health Sciences (IHS), bringing together government officials, medical experts, and disability rights advocates to address the rising number of autism cases and the urgent need for improved support systems.
Dr. Sharanjeet Kaur, Chairperson of the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), addressed the global shortage of trained professionals in medical rehabilitation. She stressed the need for expanding higher education programs in rehabilitation sciences and pointed out the rewarding career opportunities in the field. Dr. Kaur also reaffirmed RCI’s dedication to working closely with the Odisha government to strengthen rehabilitation services in the state.
Smt. Anu Garg, Development Commissioner, Odisha from the Planning & Convergence Department Presided over the meeting and reassured the gathering of the government’s ongoing support for the development of better rehabilitation infrastructure. She acknowledged the vital role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in service delivery and emphasized the need for collective efforts to improve the quality of care and support for individuals with disabilities.
Smt. Bratati Harichandan, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, shared her extensive experience and advocated for joint initiatives to advance the rights of persons with disabilities. She encouraged collaboration among various stakeholders to create inclusive policies and accessible services.
Professor Satya Mahapatra, the founder of IHS, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the increasing prevalence of autism and the importance of strengthening support structures. He also highlighted IHS’s on-going research and its commitment to disability rehabilitation, manpower development in rehabilitation sciences, and allied health services. With over 26 years of experience, IHS has been working tirelessly to enhance services and create better opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
The event was coordinated by Niyati Pattnaik, Director of SSEPD, with Dr. Subhasmita Sahoo, Assistant Professor of Audiology at IHS. A technical session featured distinguished experts, including Dr. (Prof.) Saroj Arya from the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (Secunderabad), Dr. Nirmalya Mukherjee (Kolkata), and Dr. Neha Tiwari (Lucknow). They discussed the importance of early detection and a multidisciplinary approach to autism treatment and rehabilitation.
The senior officers of SSEPD Department Ms Jayashree Tripathy, FA–cum-Special Secretary Mr. Deepak routray, Additional Secretary, Smt. Sonia Behera, Additional Secretary, Mr. Bhaskar Raito, Additional Secretary, & other Officers were present.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Nalini Mohanty, Director of Programs at IHS, expressing gratitude to all the participants and speakers.
Director
SSEPD Department
