Aashayein 2026 brings together 800 children for inclusive sports carnival….
Kolkata, February 1, 2026:
Around 800 specially-abled children from 40 schools and institutions across the city participated in the 12th edition of Aashayein – Roshni Umeedon Ki, an inclusive Paralympics sports carnival held in Kolkata on Sunday.
The event was organised by the Lions Club of Calcutta (District 322B1) in association with Round Table India (RT 113) and Ladies Circle India (LC 132) at the Gitanjali Stadium Ground. The day-long programme focused on participation, confidence-building and social inclusion through sport.
Children competed in a range of events, including 50m and 100m races, ball throw and shot put. The competitions were conducted under the supervision of trained officials from the Sodepur Referee Association (SRA) to ensure safety and fairness.
The inaugural programme was attended by senior police officials and guests, including Devendra Prakash Singh, IPS, Additional Commissioner of Police, Kolkata Police, and Rupesh Kumar, IPS, Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Kolkata Police. CA Pawan Kumar Patodia, Vice-President, Special Olympics Bharat, attended as the special guest and interacted with participants.
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Office-bearers from the organising bodies were also present, including Manoj Agarwal, Secretary, and Sailendra Tiwari, Treasurer, Lions Club of Calcutta; Harsh Karnani, Chairman, RT 113; and Anurag Mittal, Area Chairman (Area 4), who encouraged the young participants.
The programme began with a ceremonial march past, followed by flag hoisting and a balloon release. A fun carnival zone featuring magicians, jugglers and interactive performers added to the festive atmosphere, while volunteers assisted participants across the venue.
All children received breakfast, lunch, event T-shirts, jackets, caps and gift hampers, reflecting the organisers’ emphasis on dignity and inclusion over competition.
Addressing the gathering, Lion Krishan Gopal Kejriwal, President, Lions Club of Calcutta, said the initiative aimed to recognise courage and self-belief among children with special abilities. Lion Prasant Jaiswal, Chairman, Aashayein 2026, highlighted the collective effort of institutions, volunteers and community partners in making the event possible.
Now in its 12th year, Aashayein remains one of the Lions Club of Calcutta’s key outreach programmes, underscoring Kolkata’s continued focus on inclusive community initiatives.
Dignitaries present
Senior members of the Lions fraternity present included PDG Lion Anand Chopra, PDG Lion Babulal Banka, PDG Lion Kedar Nath Gupta, District Secretary Lion Neetu Baid, District Treasurer Lion Daksha Shah, along with past presidents and members from various Lions Clubs across the region.
