The Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry made its footprint in Mumbai with the first outreach programme partnering VCAN in organizing the session on “Make IT Accessible” in support of the Government of India’s “Accessible India Campaign” with ICT as a Focus on 28th November 2015.
It was a Discussion Forum which was held at the Royal Bombay Yacht Club. This was a unique initiative of the Chamber also in terms of the technology used for organizing the programme. The entire proceeding was streamed live for the benefit of reaching out to the online audience. The programme also connected two locations together- senior level delegates who were present in the Chamber in Kolkata participated in the interaction through Google hangout. Our objective as Societal Organization was to address the issue of Inclusive Accessibility of the built infrastructure, transportation, public utilities and other objects of public use for the citizens by focusing on the leveraging of the Digital Interface. We addressed the issue of Inclusive Accessibility in terms of built environment, infrastructure, conduct audits to determine the gap analysis, and to assist in the conciliatory measures to achieve the desired standards.
The Chamber submitted a Preliminary Report on the subject at the programme. Through the use of its Web Platform and Social Sanchar, VCAN would disseminate Audit findings and Recommendations, including inputs from the Chamber, to Citizens across the Social Spectrum.
Dr. Emmanuelle Savarit, Founder, Analyse-Concept Ltd. (London) was the Keynote Speaker. The Panel included:
• Shri Vijay Kumar Gautam , Principal Secretary IT, Government of Maharashtra
• Shri S. V. R. Srinivas, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai
• Smt. Mary Behlihomji, Chairperson, Central Society for the Education of the Deaf
• Prof. Mrs. Asha Bhatia, Chairperson, Enactus Somaiya Social Cell K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies & Research
• Shri A. V. Suresh, President International Operations & CEO Forbes Professional, Eureka Forbes Ltd.
Shri V. Ranganathan, Trustee, VCAN and Former Chief Secretary, Government of Maharashtra was the Moderator. Smt. Indrani Malkani, Managing Trustee, VCAN anchored the programme including the Interactive Session.
Mr. Deb A Mukherjee, Chairperson, Emerging Areas and Energy and Environment Committees of BCC&I concluded the programme with a Vote of Thanks. Mr. Subhodip Ghosh, Director General Designate and Ms. Angana Guha Roy Chowdhury, Assistant Director were in Mumbai to attend the programme.
Among the senior members who participated in the interaction from Kolkata were:
• Mr. S Radhakrishnan, Past President, The Bengal Chamber
• Mr. R N Lahiri, Chairperson Emeritus, Emerging Technologies Committee and Chairperson, Education Committee, The Bengal Chamber
• Mr. N K Ghosal, Director, NKG & Associates and Member, Emerging Technologies Committee, The Bengal Chamber
• Mr. Shubhabrata Som, Director, DFIC - Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd., Member, Emerging Technologies Committee, The Bengal Chamber
• Mr. Suman Lahiri, Independent Consultant and Member, Energy and Environment Committee, The Bengal Chamber