For many women with intellectual disabilities in rural West Bengal, the playing field has always been somewhere other people go. Advancing Olympism365 Bengal is changing that – placing them, in the words of project lead Renaissan, "on the playing field instead of at the margins."

An international recognition

In 2024–25, the initiative was named one of the projects supported through the Olympism365 collective funding initiative of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Women Win and Beyond Sport. The IOC listed it as "Empowering Women with Intellectual Disabilities (India)": improving the physical fitness, emotional resilience and confidence of 600 Bengali women through adaptive sports training, health monitoring and psychosocial support.

The project is led by Tarapur Social Development Society (TSDS) in collaboration with Special Olympics Bharat West Bengal, the Civilian Welfare Foundation and Spriha Society.

Why this matters

The context is stark. Baseline data from the programme shows that more than 95% of participants have experienced some form of gender-based violence, often involving someone they know. Around 65% of the women come from tribal communities in rural areas, where disability, gender and geography combine to limit opportunity.

Our research has shown that when an athlete with a disability engages in systematic sports training for more than five years, it supports their psychosocial empowerment. Sport can challenge inequity, patriarchy and rigid gender roles – and give women a space where they feel safe and respected.

More than a game

Sessions include kabaddi, boccia, football and badminton, combined with periodic health assessments, psychosocial sports modules and gender-based violence awareness sessions. As Beyond Sport reported in March 2026, the change has been visible: girls who once stayed on the sidelines now arrive early, remind coaches about warm-ups and pull quieter teammates into the group. Coaches and caregivers report more independence, clearer communication and stronger emotional control, and some families now proudly introduce their daughters as athletes.

"We have seen girls who were once labeled 'incapable' now take the lead – on and off the field." – Renaissan, project lead at TSDS (via Beyond Sport)

Training the trainers

Lasting change needs skilled people. On 25 and 26 February 2025, the first of a series of workshops – the National Workshop for Engaging Inclusive Master Trainers for Sportspersons with Intellectual Disabilities – was held at Vinaya Bhavana, Visva-Bharati. Over 70 participants attended, including social science and physical education students, special educators and social workers, exploring the intersection of disability, gender, sport, health and gender-based violence.

Science alongside sport

CWF aims to take the initiative further – to 1,000 women across 10 districts of West Bengal – and a research pilot study with Santosh University (Delhi NCR) will track metabolic, hormonal, psychological and genomic outcomes. The programme was also honoured with the Best CSR Award at the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IFCCI) CSR Conclave in 2025.

Walk with us

Everything described here is made possible by volunteers, partners and donors who believe that inclusion should be lived, not just promised. If this story moved you, please consider supporting CWF with a donation (80G tax-deductible), or joining us as a volunteer, intern or partner.