ASTHA

Before a constraint shows up in the world it first shows up in the human mind and eventually exists in the agreements that are formed. The fundamental barrier for people is, this agreement, that there are only a limited set of possibilities for people with disabilities. This challenge cannot be addressed in the same realm of thinking that has gotten us where we are. It requires new thinking. Astha’s work enables people with disabilities, their friends, family and society at large to think beyond the box of socially constructed norms regarding disability and abilities of persons with disabilities.


Exploring potential, living joyously, living a life of complete participation is not even a dream for most people with disabilities.


Astha's work is inspired by the motto "newly possible" for every project we plan. This motto guides us to ignite the dreams of a growing number of people with disabilities in India.


Astha's work focuses on building an inclusive ecosystem in India within which persons with disabilities are equally contributing members along side their non-disabled peers.


Astha's work creates increasing opportunities for interaction among the disabled and non-disabled people living in India. This approach enhances opportunities for both the groups to know one another better. This approach blurs the boundaries between the two groups to a degree such that engagement between them is rooted in joy, satisfaction, and growth.


Astha's work empowers persons with disabilities to lead a life of their dreams by using sports as a tool for development and by improving education opportunities among Indians with disabilities. More importantly, Astha's work also focuses on improving voting rights of Indian with disabilities.


Discovering challenges, creating solutions and managing delivery of these solutions are themes Astha follows while choosing projects.

VEER RATNA FOUNDATION

Veer Ratna Foundation (VRF), previously called as Vasantharatna Foundation is a public charitable
trust based in Bangalore working towards empowering &
transforming families of battle casualties.

The foundation was set up in 2007 by Mrs. Subhashini in memory of Col Vasanth V AC, who
was immortalized as commanding officer of 9 Maratha Light Infantry on 31st July, 2007 in OP
RAKSHAK at Uri, J&K while fighting against terrorists.
He is the first posthumous Ashoka Chakra recipient in Karnataka.
We started our work with the families of Jawans and Junior Commissioned Officers (JCO) of
the Army who were killed in action in the service of the nation during war or war-like situation.
We have recently expanded the scope of our programs to include Navy, Air force and the
Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
Our work initially involved only women, referred to as veer naaris (war widows), with a shared
history and identity of being a brave heart's wife; and as an attempt to enable them to get over
their common grief and create a community to help each other. As we evolved, now we
engage not just with veer naari but also with her children through a series of unique
experiential empowerment and other enablement programs.

Mobility India

Mobility India, (MI) a registered society based in Bengaluru was founded in 1994 to enable, empower, and include people with disabilities, and integrate rehabilitation and assistive device services within a rural community-based inclusive program in the southern and eastern parts of India and in the region. MI as an organisation is a progressive force in the disability, development, rehabilitation, and Assistive Technology (AT) sector committed to inclusive development and social inclusion.

The Rehabilitation Research and Training Centre in Bengaluru is a model for accessibility. MI has vast experience in community-based inclusive development approach which is person-centered, and disability-inclusive, which forms strong community structures. Rehabilitation and AT provisions with therapeutic interventions are carried out in rural and urban settings, product development. The Education and Research activities include certificates to university level in allied and health care personnel affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and recognised by the Rehabilitation Council of India. The Only Prosthetics & Orthotics training centre in India recognized by the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics (ISPO). Gender, disability, and inclusion are mainstreamed in its staffing, services, and capacity development programs. MI Team is comprised of 117 (52% W, 43% PWDs). MI has also worked with 350 grassroots organizations by focusing on less resource settings. It also contributes to the healthcare strategies framed at the national, international, and global levels.

Mobility India is the recipient of the National Award for ‘Outstanding Work in the Creation of Barrier-Free environment for Persons with Disabilities by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, in 2014 and the State Award in recognition of its unique work in the field of disability from Department for Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens, Government of Karnataka in 2017.

Our Priority
People with disabilities, the poor, particularly women, children, and elderly people

GUBBACHI LEARNING COMMUNITY

Founded in 2015, Gubbachi Learning Community is a Section 8 company* working towards the educational inclusion of marginalised children from migrant families in Bangalore’s IT corridor along Sarjapur and Outer Ring Roads.

Children from these communities are often prevented from attending school due to multiple reasons - from physical access, existing learning deficits and cultural barriers. Even if they are able to attend, non-learning in under-resourced government schools present further obstacles. This leads to poor school outcomes, low attendance and ultimately - to dropouts.

Gubbachi has developed a portfolio of interlinking programmes that take a 360° view of this problem:

- Our Educational Programmes address the spectrum of learning disadvantage and seek to remove barriers to education – with particular focus on foundational literacy and school certification for adolescents.

- Our Community Programmes include initiatives to support the families of students to keep them invested in schooling. For example: building social identity for migrant workers, enabling access to benefits and entitlements, and providing access to quality healthcare.

Since 2015, we have impacted 3,900+ children in nine Government Higher Primary Schools along Sarjapur Road, and engaged with 18,300+ families in around 30 migrant communities across Bangalore.