9 months ago
AIF Leads Disability Inclusion at International Purple Fest Goa 2025
The American India Foundation (AIF) led discussions and awarded companies for their efforts in including people with disabilities at the International Purple Fest Goa 2025.
The event brought together people from many countries and industries to talk about how to make society and workplaces more inclusive for people with disabilities.
AIF also signed agreements to help create a more inclusive environment in Goa and to teach sign language to corporate employees.
American India Foundation (AIF) affirmed leadership in disability inclusion at International Purple Fest Goa 2025
Fest drew over 10,000 delegates and 50,000 visitors, including dignitaries and industry pioneers
AIF's DI-verse Certification felicitated 17 companies for inclusive practices across industries
AIF hosted Purple Charcha, discussing integrated, intersectional inclusion across sectors
AIF signed MoUs with Goa government and Indian Sign Language Research Centre
- Who
- American India Foundation (AIF), individuals with disabilities, industry pioneers, civil society actors, academic experts, and dignitaries including Dr. Pramod Sawant and Dr. Virendra Kumar
- What
- Hosted International Purple Fest Goa 2025, awarded companies for disability inclusion, and signed MoUs
- Where
- Entertainment Society of Goa, Panaji, Goa
- When
- October 9-12, 2025
- Why
- To advance disability inclusion and make it a vital axis of India’s social and economic transformation
Key facts
- Event Name
- International Purple Fest Goa 2025
- Organizers
- Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of Goa, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, United Nations India, and American India Foundation
- Attendees
- Over 10,000 delegates and 50,000 visitors
- Awarded Companies
- 17 companies across industries
- MoU Partners
- Government of Goa and Indian Sign Language Research and Training Centre
Quotes
Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, IAS, Secretary, DEPwD, Government of India
The Secretary of the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India
“The International Purple Fest stands as a powerful example of collaboration between government, industry, and civil society. Initiatives such as the DI-verse Certification and the Inclusive Goa Campaign are paving the way for disability inclusion to become an integral and sustainable part of our systems, moving beyond aspiration to reality.”
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Kamesh Sanghi, Deputy Country Director – Programs, AIF
The Deputy Country Director – Programs of the American India Foundation
“Purple Fest is not simply an event; it is an inflection point in the disability ecosystem. The Purple Charcha is an opportunity to move beyond statements of intent and co-design models that transform accessibility into everyday practice. For AIF, it is part of a larger vision: to make inclusion the standard operating principle of India’s social and economic development.”
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