Kolkata, Nov. 3 -- Celebrating courage, determination and inclusion, the 9th edition of Disha Samman 2026, an initiative of Disha Eye Hospitals, honoured individuals with visual disabilities who made remarkable contributions in their respective fields. The ceremony recognised outstanding achievements in sports, music and education.
Captain, Deepika TC and Vice-Captain, Ganga Kadam, representing the Indian Women's Blind Cricket Team, were honoured for the team's achievements in blind cricket and their contribution to empowering visually-impaired women through sports. Arun Lal, former Indian cricketer and Ranji Trophy winner, presented the award.
Raj Jain, singer, lyricist and pianist, was recognised for his contribution to music and his inspiring artistic journey. Renowned singer, Lopamudra Mitra presented the award, celebrating his achievements.
Sayantan Banerjee, educator, disability rights advocate and youth leader, received recognition for his work in education, disability rights and youth empowerment. Renowned artist Shuvaprasanna Bhattacharjee presented the award in acknowledgement of his efforts.
"Through Disha Samman, we strive to celebrate individuals and organisations that redefine the meaning of courage, determination and inclusion. This year's awardees demonstrated that visual impairment was no barrier to excellence, whether in sports, music or education. We hoped their achievements would inspire more people to challenge stereotypes and embrace diversity," said Debashish Bhattacharya, Chairman, Disha Eye Hospitals.
Each awardee received a plaque and a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000 in recognition of their achievements.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.