Positive action begins with a positive vision. Without one, the other is futile.

While chasing a goal, however, we must never forget that our aspirations, no matter how grand, can be achieved by simply making small strides. Driven by that belief, our vision for 2020 is to make India more inclusive, healthy and skilled.

1. Inclusivity

The term inclusion implies an all-embracing societal ideology. For individuals with disabilities and special needs, inclusion secures opportunities to learn alongside their non-disabled peers. Although establishing truly inclusive classrooms might be a tough task, parents and teachers approaching it with a positive attitude can make vital inroads in the right direction.

We believe that creating a more inclusive society will not only benefit special needs children, but also raise a generation of people to be more compassionate towards those with different (but not necessarily lesser) abilities.

2. Health

With increasing population, India is also facing a drastic increase in individual health problems. Each year, almost 38 million deaths occur in India due to non-communicable diseases. 16 out of these 38 million deaths occur before the age of 70, and 82% of these premature deaths occur in low and middle-income countries.

It is important to provide everyone access to healthcare facilities, and make them aware about the diseases they might be suffering from. To ensure that the underprivileged are not deprived of these facilities, organisations like the Ponty Chadha Foundation organise regular health and food distribution camps. Through such activities, the foundation addresses hunger, food security and community health for marginalised groups to drive them towards socio-economic development and a better quality of life.

3. Skills

To grow and prosper, the worlds needs a skilled workforce. As a result, skill building and knowledge development become powerful tools to empower individuals and improve their social acceptance, and are widely recognised as the driving forces behind the financial growth and community development of any country.

Nearly 4.75 million people join India’s workforce annually; the challenge here is to provide employment to all of them. To achieve that, candidates need skills training that can make them employable. We need to build institutions that can support such skill development initiatives.

In an age where job creation is a challenge in itself, it is important that skills are given due prominence right at the school level. While we do so in our educational institutions, namely Genesis Global School and Mata Bhagwanti Chadha Niketan, we also train the rural youth to gain skills required for an independent livelihood at Sardar Kulwant Singh Chadha Skills Academy.

Believing in one’s talents, abilities and self-worth can empower individuals and nations to walk down an even brighter path, but feeling included, being in the pink of health and having the skills to grab each opportunity makes one determined and capable to strive for excellence. In more ways than one, that is a goal we should all aim for.