Bank of Baroda Workshop- International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Celebrating International Day of Persons with Disabilities, Bank of Baroda hosted a thoughtfully designed workshop in Pune that highlighted resilience, creativity, and inclusion. The event left participants feeling empowered, heard, and valued.Date: December 4, 2025
Venue: President Hotel, Pune.Read Event Report
Pune:
Bank of Baroda (BoB) marked the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on December 4, 2025, with a thoughtfully curated workshop at President Hotel, Pune.
The event stood out not merely as a formal observance, but as a deeply engaging and inclusive experience for its participants.
Around 110 persons with diverse disabilities, drawn from across Maharashtra (excluding Mumbai), came together under one roof. The gathering included individuals with varying degrees of visual, physical and other disabilities, with a few participants being 100 per cent visually impaired. As the programme began, the hall was marked by a quiet anticipation. Many attendees appeared hesitant at first, unsure of what the workshop would entail.
However, as the session progressed, the atmosphere underwent a visible transformation. The turning point came with interactive activities, particularly a gratitude-sharing exercise, where participants were encouraged to speak about things they were thankful for in their lives. What followed was an outpouring of enthusiasm, warmth and candid expression. Several participants shared their lists with such honesty and humour that they drew spontaneous laughter and applause from the audience.
Observers noted a distinct “twinkle in the eye” among the participants as confidence replaced initial hesitation. The audience remained highly attentive till the very end, defying early speculation about attention spans in a mixed-ability group setting.
Many participants later expressed that such motivating and inclusive workshops are rare in their lives. They voiced heartfelt appreciation for Dr Poornima Gauri, who conceptualised and designed the session in a manner that ensured equal participation and understanding, regardless of the nature or extent of disability.
The workshop also served as a reminder that disability does not limit intellect, creativity or joy. On the contrary, the event highlighted that the participants were intellectually sharp, emotionally resilient and endowed with unique talents, living their lives with remarkable positivity.
The programme concluded with the audience thanking Bank of Baroda for organising what they described as a meaningful and empowering initiative. Several participants urged the bank to conduct more such workshops in the future With this initiative, Bank of Baroda reaffirmed its commitment to inclusion demonstrating that true empowerment lies not in sympathy, but in recognising and nurturing abilities.
