Sports

Disha Samman 2026 Celebrates The Achievements of Visually Impaired Champions

- The 9th Edition Honoured The Indian Women's Blind Cricket Team, Singer Raj
Jain And Educator Sayantan Banerjee -

Kolkata, 31st October, 2026: Celebrating courage, determination and inclusion,
the 9th Edition of Disha Samman 2026, an initiative of Disha Eye Hospitals, one
of Eastern India's leading eye care chains, honoured individuals with visual
disabilities who made remarkable contributions in their respective fields. The
ceremony recognised outstanding achievements in sports, music and education,
highlighting inspiring journeys that challenged barriers and demonstrated the
power of perseverance.

Captain, Ms Deepika TC and Vice-Captain, Ms Ganga Kadam, representing the
Indian Women's Blind Cricket Team, were honoured for the team's achievements in
blind cricket and their contribution to empowering visually impaired women
through sports. Arun Lal, former Indian cricketer and Ranji Trophy winner, presented
the award, recognising the team's sporting excellence, determination and role
in inspiring women to overcome barriers.

Mr Raj Jain, singer, lyricist and pianist, was recognised for his contribution
to music and his inspiring artistic journey. Renowned singer, Ms Lopamudra
Mitra presented the award, celebrating his achievements and highlighting the
role of music in promoting creative expression and inclusion.

Mr Sayantan Banerjee, educator, disability rights advocate and youth leader,
received recognition for his work in education, disability rights and youth
empowerment. Renowned artist Mr Shuvaprasanna Bhattacharjee presented the award
in acknowledgement of his efforts. "Through Disha Samman, we strive to
celebrate individuals and organisations that redefine the meaning of courage,
determination and inclusion. This year's awardees demonstrated that visual
impairment was no barrier to excellence, whether in sports, music or education.
Their journeys reflected the power of perseverance, talent and the determination
to create meaningful change. We hoped their achievements would inspire more
people to challenge stereotypes, embrace diversity and work towards a society
where everyone had equal opportunities to realise their potential", said
Dr Debashish Bhattacharya, Chairman, Disha Eye Hospitals.

Since its inception in 2018, Disha Samman has recognised individuals and
organisations whose achievements exemplified resilience, talent and social
commitment. The initiative continued to highlight inspiring stories that
encouraged society to look beyond limitations and recognise the

potential of persons with visual disabilities.

Each awardee received a plaque and a cash prize of 1,00,000 in recognition of
their exceptional achievements and contributions. Through the initiative, Disha
Eye Hospitals reaffirmed its commitment to celebrating human potential and
fostering a more inclusive society.

About Disha Eye Hospitals

Disha Eye Hospitals was founded by three doctors from NRS Medical College,
Kolkata, on 1 May 1997, in Barrackpore on the outskirts of the city. The
hospital began with the objective of providing quality eye care at affordable
prices to everyone. From its humble beginnings, Disha grew into one of Eastern
India's largest state-of-the-art eye care networks, attracting patients from
far-flung locations. The hospital expanded its presence to Sheoraphuli,
Durgapur, Sinthi, Teghoria, Behala, Barasat, Gariahat, New Town, Mourigram,
Burdwan, Mecheda and Siliguri. This network helped patients access advanced eye
care treatments closer to home, reducing the need to travel long distances and
incur additional expenses. Disha Eye Hospitals remained committed to providing progressive,
reliable and affordable eye care to people across all

economic strata.