On Monday evening, many were surprised to see the Rashtrapati Bhavan, South Block, and the Parliament illuminated in red. This was done under the nation-wide ‘Act4Dyslexia campaign’, an initiative to spread awareness about dyslexia.
What is Dyslexia?
The common question many have been asking after seeing the buildings in red. Dyslexia is a form of learning disability. On an average, 20 per cent of India’s population, including 35 million students are affected according to ChangeInkk Foundation, which organised the event, said Monday in a statement. Often misunderstood as the “slow-learner syndrome,” the people afflicted with learning disabilities struggle with comprehend, speak, read, write, spell, or to do mathematical calculations but are also associated with skills vital for higher-order thinking, including logical reasoning, critical thinking, problem-solving, and innovation.
Noopur Jhunjhunwala, the Foundation’s co-founder and Trustee, said, “In a bold step towards spreading awareness about dyslexia, the highest offices of the government and key monuments in Delhi — including Rashtrapati Bhavan, North and South Block, Parliament, and India Gate — in collaboration with UNESCO MGIEP & ChangeInkk Foundation were illuminated on Sunday in red, the colour for dyslexia awareness,”
The foundation is carrying similar awareness drive across major cities, including Patna, Ranchi, Jaipur, Kohima, Shimla, and Mumbai.
An interesting study shows that 40 per cent of self-made millionaires have dyslexia, and many renowned inventors, like Albert Einstein, were dyslexic, says the foundation.
Founded by a family of dyslexics, the foundation is a leading non-profit that aims to unlock the potential of 200 million Indians with Specific Learning Disabilities (SLD), the statement said.
Specific Learning Disabilities, including dyslexia, were officially recognised under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act of 2016, which mandates equal opportunities in education, employment, and other aspects of life.
Jhunjhunwala informed, “With over 1,600 walks organised across the country — spanning state capitals, districts, blocks, villages, and school levels during this month so far, the campaign, this year, has expanded significantly.
The initiative engaged over 4 lakh participants, who collectively took over 2 billion steps toward driving awareness for ‘Act4Dyslexia’.
“These walks, which began on October 8, 2024, were led by state education departments, parent groups, and educational institutions in collaboration with over 150 organisations,” added jhunjhunwala.
The walks will end on October 30.
