HYDERABAD: “Caring for the environment and promoting inclusive community development must go hand in hand,” said Telangana deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka at a tree plantation drive held at the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID) in Secunderabad on Tuesday.The initiative, titled Qaabil Kadam, was organised by Ismaili CIVIC in collaboration with the Aga Khan Social Welfare Board for India and NIEPID, and brought together around 110 participants, including persons with intellectual disabilities, caregivers, volunteers, and community members.As part of Ismaili CIVIC’s global Roots for Change campaign, 175 saplings were planted across the NIEPID campus. Secunderabad Cantonment MLA N. Ganesh also took part in the event.“This event reminds us that every individual, regardless of ability, can contribute meaningfully to society,” said Nazil Dhamani, honorary secretary, Ismaili Council for Southern India. “It’s a step towards inclusion through simple but impactful action,” he added.Following the plantation drive, a cultural program featured performances by differently abled persons in music, dance, and theatre. Organisers said the event aimed to promote environmental awareness while encouraging participation from all sections of society.
