Face2News/Chandigarh
Continuing into the second day of the International Conference, the Government Rehabilitation Institute for Intellectual Disabilities (GRIID), Chandigarh, in collaboration with the Haryana Yog Aayog, Government of Haryana, carried forward the theme “Yoga for Empowerment: Enhancing the Lives of Children with Intellectual Disabilities” on 20 March 2026 with great enthusiasm and academic engagement.
(MOREPIC1) The second day of the conference witnessed active participation from professionals and experts, further strengthening the discourse on the role of yoga in promoting holistic development and empowerment of children with intellectual disabilities.
Dr Jaideep Arya, Chairman, Haryana Yog Aayog; Dr M. Karuppasamy, Course Coordinator, GRIID; Mr Anil Kumar, Principal, GRIID; and Dr Reena Jain, In-charge, Clinic, GRIID, were among the distinguished dignitaries present at the conference.
The technical sessions were enriched by Dr R. Giridharan, Associate Professor and Head of the Faculty of General and Adapted Physical Education and Yoga at Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu, and Dr Satbir Khalsa from the USA, who shared their expertise through specialised sessions.
The conference featured eminent dignitaries and resource persons from diverse disciplines.
Dr Madhu Pandit, Founder, Inner Wellness State, Mohali, spoke on “Yoga for Empowerment: Nurturing Confidence, Emotional Balance, and Holistic Well-being in Children with Intellectual Disabilities.”
Professor Dazy Zarabi, Professor, Department of Community Education and Disability Studies, Panjab University, Chandigarh, delivered an insightful presentation on integrating yoga into inclusive classrooms. Ms Alpana Gautam, Special Educator at GRIID, Chandigarh, demonstrated simple yoga asanas and breathing exercises tailored for children with intellectual disabilities.
Mr. Anil Kumar, Principal of GRIID School, shared practical strategies for adapting yoga practices to meet the needs of children with intellectual disabilities.
Professor Sapna Nanda, Principal, Government College of Education, Chandigarh, conducted a session on the “Yoga and Disability Rights Framework,” emphasising the significance of adopting inclusive and rights-based approaches.
(SUBHEAD)Dr. Jyoti Arya, Assistant Professor at the University of Ayurveda, Uttarakhand, presented on the role of Ayurveda in the field of intellectual disability.
Dr Deepankar Banerjee, Board Member of Special Olympics Bharat, Area Director (SOB) Madhya Pradesh, and former Disability Commissioner of Madhya Pradesh, graced the valedictory function of the two-day International Conference on “Yoga for Empowerment: Enhancing the Lives of Children with Intellectual Disabilities” as the Chief Guest.
The conference concluded with a valedictory function that featured the felicitation of distinguished guests, impressive yogasana presentations by students, and the recognition of winners in paper and poster presentation categories.
The programme formally concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Reena Jain Incharge Clinic , marking the successful completion of the two-day International Conference.