Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): A two-day national-level departmental summit focusing on social welfare and the empowerment of persons with disabilities will be held in New Delhi on November 18 and 19, 2026, Haryana Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Krishna Kumar Bedi announced on Wednesday.
The event, titled the Vayo Samman National Campaign and Vayo Sarathi Departmental Summit, will be inaugurated by Union Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Virendra Kumar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to attend the concluding session, Bedi said.
The minister shared the details after a video conference on preparations for the summit in Chandigarh.
Summit To Focus On Four Key Themes
According to Bedi, the organisers have received 11,720 active suggestions from different states across the country. These submissions will be examined in detail to help shape future policies and programmes.
The summit will focus on four themes: the Nasha Mukt Bharat campaign, strengthening scholarships for students, facilities and support for persons with disabilities, and building an accessible and developed India.
Bedi said two of the themes relate to broader social welfare issues, while the other two focus on persons with disabilities.
Focus On Early Identification And Empowerment
The discussions will include measures to reduce substance abuse, improve scholarship support and identify disabilities at an early stage so that eligible people can access the assistance available to them.
The summit will also review the Centre’s initiatives aimed at making public spaces and services more accessible. Feedback received from states will be assessed to develop and implement future plans, the minister said.
Describing it as the first departmental summit of its kind in the country, Bedi said the event would bring ministers and senior officials from all states together to discuss ways to strengthen social security and improve access to welfare services.
Additional Chief Secretary of the department G Anupama, Director Mukul Kumar and other senior officials were also present.
