National Training Programme for Clinical and Rehabilitation Psychologists begins at NIT Rourkela.
With this spirit of empowerment and inclusion of persons with disabilities (Divyangjan), National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID), Secunderabad, in collaboration with National Institute of Technology Rourkela and the Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department, Government of Odisha, inaugurated a national-level Training Programme on the “NIEPID Indian Test of Intelligence (NITI)”. The three-day programme, from 5th to 7th March 2026, has brought together 98 Clinical Psychologists and Rehabilitation Psychologists from across the country, with the objective of strengthening professional capacity to ensure accurate assessment and improved services for Divyangjan.
The NIEPID Indian Test of Intelligence (NITI) is a standardized indigenous psychological assessment tool developed specifically to measure intellectual functioning among children and adolescents in the Indian socio-cultural context. The NITI test is essential for professionals working in disability services as it plays a vital role in identifying intellectual disability, assessing cognitive abilities, and supporting decisions related to education, rehabilitation, and disability certification.
The inaugural session was graced by Ms. Deenah Dastageer, IAS, Commissioner-cum-ADM, Rourkela, as Chief Guest; Shri Sannyashai Kumar Behera, OAS, Deputy Secretary to Government, SSEPD Department; Prof. Rohan Dhiman, Registrar, NITR; Prof. J. Pradhan, Head of the Department of Humanities & Social Sciences-NITR; Prof. R.K. Biswal, Principal Coordinator of the Programme and Head of ICS-NITR; Dr. Saroj Arya, Retd. Associate Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Psychology, NIEPID; and Dr. Sunita Devi, Assistant Professor in Rehabilitation Psychology and Head of Department, NIEPID.
The inaugural programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Mrs. Mitali Rana, DSSO, who acknowledged the role of the SSEPD Department in advancing welfare initiatives for persons with disabilities in Odisha. Professionals and volunteers from ‘Shraddha’ (a Rourkela-based NGO working for children with Intellectual disabilities), along with students from the Development Studies program in the Humanities and Social Sciences Department at NIT Rourkela, are coordinating the conduct of this event. The training programme marks a significant step towards enhancing professional competence in psychological assessment and strengthening disability services.
