Dr Sharanjeet appointed new Chairperson of Rehabilitation Council of India

Rohtak, October 6, 2023: Veteran Social worker and a leading name in the field of the welfare of the Divyangjan community, Dr Sharanjeet Kaur, today joined as the new Chairperson of The Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), New Delhi, a pivotal institution in the field of rehabilitation and disability services in the country.

Dr Sharanjeet Kaur brings a wealth of experience and expertise to this role, making this appointment a significant milestone for the council. Having dedicated over 28 years solely for the upliftment and empowerment of children with disabilities, Dr Sharanjeet, a doctorate in the field of social work, is one of the handful of people who has such rich exposure and specialization in the domain of deaf welfare.

In her role as the Chairperson of RCI, Dr Sharanjeet will be responsible for overseeing and guiding the council's mission to promote and regulate rehabilitation professionals and services across the country. This includes developing policies, standards, and guidelines that ensure the highest quality of care and support for individuals with disabilities. The Chairperson will also work closely with stakeholders, including government agencies, educational institutions, and non-governmental organizations, to advance the field of rehabilitation and disability studies in the country.

In 1993, Dr Sharanjeet Kaur joined the Haryana Welfare Society for Persons with Hearing & Speech Impairment (HWSPSHI), Panchkula, as a Trainee and rose to the level of its Chairperson in 2017. During her five years’ tenure Dr Sharanjeet undertook a lot of pioneering initiatives in terms of education, access, skill development, employability and social integration of these special children. With initiatives like NeevAadharam, Digital Sign Language (DSL) Lab, Deaf Hunar, developing Indian Sign Language (ISL) text books, etc., the society underwent three sixty-degree transformation in a short span of time with regard to deaf welfare and empowerment.

Dr Sharanjeet Kaur had inducted hundreds of passionate people as Society’s life members and volunteers. She also brought together stakeholders like universities, institutions and business houses through collaborations to widen the Society’s pool of resources. With her at the helm, the Society underwent drastic, path-breaking changes at the policy level. Her vision of ‘From Charity to Dignity’ had been pivotal in transforming the outlook towards the deaf children. Under her stewardship, the Society had won five national and 30 state awards in last five years, including the prestigious ‘National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for the year 2020’, conferred upon her by Ram Nath Kovind, the then President of India.

 
In response to her appointment, Dr Sharanjeet Kaur stated, "I am deeply honoured to take on this role and am committed to working tirelessly to ensure that RCI continues to be a beacon of excellence in the field of rehabilitation. We will strive to create a more inclusive and accessible society where individuals with disabilities could be empowered in a comprehensive manner."