2. ENVIRONMENT
Parisara
Parisara, Samarthanam's waste management
wing, collects and recycles dry waste from to the market place, compatible with all major
corporate locations, apartment complexes and products. Samarthanam Parisara is a registered
residential units. re-processor/recycler of printer cartridges,
The programme aids in empowering the authorized and licensed by Karnataka State
differently-abled by providing employment Pollution Control Board.
opportunities. The income generated is used for
Samarthanam's welfare activities. CULTURE
. 5.16 lakh kgs in 2011 Samarthanam encourages talent among
. Annual Revenue generated: Rs 52 lakhs differently-abled youth, nurturing their skills in
art, music & dance and providing opportunities
Printer Cartridge Recycling Unit to perform on stage.
'Sunadha', Samarthanam's cultural troupe
Samarthanam's Printer Cartridge Recycling Plant comprising visually impaired artistes, has given
where refilling/remanufacturing is carried out; classical and folk dance performances across the
brings high quality compatible toner cartridges country, and the U.S.
An Interview - By Arundhati Venkatesh
Three inspiring women show us what visually impaired people in India can achieve.
Savithri has been working at a BPO run by Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, after completing her
B.A. She has been learning dance right from her school days, and has travelled abroad many times.
Savithri is visually impaired. She hails from a village where there were no facilities for education. Her
uncle, a bus conductor, met other visually impaired people on a bus journey and obtained information
and contacts from them. Savithri was then sent to the Ramana Maharishi School for the Blind. After
completing her 10 th std., she arrived at Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled and spent the next eight
years there.
Gangamma, visually impaired, is a degree holder, a dancer and chess player. Gangamma has won the
National Chess championship for the blind, and was also part of the Samarthanam troupe that won
the All-India Dance competition in 2010. She has secured a job at a bank.
Gangamma is originally from a village in Bellary district, but has spent the last fifteen years in
Bangalore. She came to Samarthanam for her PUC after completing her 10th.
Suma is a B.Com graduate, and works for Samarthanam as a Volunteer Co-ordinator. She is also
visually impaired and arrived at Samarthanam to do her PUC after completing her 10th std. in a normal
school.
The three women have travelled extensively for cultural tours and performances. I spoke to them
about their passion, their accomplishments and their journey so far.
Best Compliments from
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3. Dance for the sight impaired
Suma lights up when talking about dance. She On the transition to the real world, she says, “It
says, “Dancing makes me happy. I don't feel any was like being with parents while we were at
stage fear. We learn dance using the touch-and- Samarthanam, but now I am self reliant.”
feel method. We can't execute eye movement,
but apart from that we perform like sighted “Learning computers and dance at
dancers. We walk around on stage and take Samarthanam was a turning point, it helped me
steps to measure from the centre to sides before come up in life”, says Suma.
a performance. We perform in rhythm with the
music.” Savithri is visibly grateful. “College admissions
“It takes practice”, Savithri says, “I enjoy dancing a were over, I was late. But Vasanti ma'am took me
lot. I forget everything when I am dancing.” to NMKRV college and requested the authorities.
According to Gangamma the key is not to lose I got a seat thanks to Samarthanam.
orientation. “We can gauge the audience Samarthanam continued to support me - I
reaction and interest level from the claps”, she studied and availed facilities without having to
adds. Gangamma learnt to play the veena and pay any fees. I now work at Samarthanam's
the flute, before taking to dance. At first, she disabled-friendly rural BPO. The BPO is unlike
enjoyed the flute more as she could hear the anything I have seen before, and it employs
music as she played. Gradually, Gangamma got almost a hundred people. I would like to thank
interested and inspired by others in the dance everyone at Samarthanam”, Savithri says with
troupe. Then there was no looking back. emotion.
Being sight impaired not an obstacle for Overcoming challenges with some help
travelling
Savithri is very proud that she did well at both
“From not being able to speak English to being a dance and academics. Gangamma agrees and
confident woman, travel brought about the says it required focus. Samarthanam helped by
transformation”, Gangamma says. providing CDs/DVDs with lessons copied when
“Communication definitely, and I learnt life skills they had to miss classes during tours.
too. People abroad do their own house work, Suma adds, “While theory classes were alright, I
they are independent”, Savithri tells me. needed help from volunteers when it came to
practicals. Computers helped a lot and made
On Samarthanam Trust for the disabled things easier”.
Gangamma says, “Samarthanam paid our On attitudes towards visually impaired
college fees, provided computers, Internet, free people in India
accommodation and food. There are a lot of
other things; I can't express myself in words. No Savithri says, “Being blind is a boon. I wouldn't
matter how much I say, it is not enough. I am have gone to America or studied as much
totally blind; Vasanti ma'am (one of the otherwise. I got opportunities and made use of
Samarthanam Trustees) motivated me and was them. Had I resigned myself to thinking 'I am
more than a mother. blind' I would've been sitting at home doing
nothing. My parents did not differentiate
Samarthanam may look small at first, but the between me and my siblings. At Samarthanam
facilities are very good and if one utilizes it well, too, I was in an integrated school beside able-
he/she is sure to do well in life. Access to the bodied children – we were treated as equals.
Internet, computers, opportunities, foreign That is what I would like to say – don't
trips... I could forget about my disability. At home, differentiate, encourage. Don't decide upfront
extended family treated me with sympathy. At that we can't do something. Give us a chance to
Samarthanam, I was treated as a capable show we can.”
person.” Gangamma states, “People think we can't do
“The food we had at Samarthanam was because we can't see. But we can, sometimes
excellent, I can't forget it,” Gangamma even better than those with sight. We are
reminisces. “I feel welcome even now when I specially-abled. Try to overlook the fact that we
visit”, she adds. can't see.”
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www.samarthanam.org www.blindcricket.in
4. Want to help?
Savithri would like to provide books and finance difference,” She adds.
education for a few children. “I also want to raise Gangamma suggests, “Be there, spend time.
funds. I want to give back as much as I have taken Arrange a field trip - it will be a good change from
assistance from Samarthanam.” says this the routine for these kids who have no place to
confident young woman. “If possible, one can go to other than school/college and the NGO. It
provide financial support, but that may not be would be good to tie reward to achievement.
possible for all. Volunteering, reader services, Promise to fund the education of those who
recording, assisting during dance practice – score more than 80%”.
there are many other ways one can make a
Awards and Recognition
· Samarthanam Founder Managing Trustee Mr. G.K. Mahantesh
was conferred with the National Award for Child Welfare 2009. The
award was presented to him by the Hon. President of India.
· Mahantesh's contribution to sports for the differently-abled was
recognised with the NDTV Spirit of Sport Award for 2011. Mr.
Mahantesh received the award in the 'Against the Odds - Lifetime
Achievement' category. Mr. G.K. Mahantesh receiving the ?
National Award from the President
Mr. Mahantesh received the award at an awards ceremony graced by
the nation's leading sportspersons, politicians like Union Minister of
HRD Kapil Sibal & Minister of State for Information and Technology
Sachin Pilot, and movie stars. Olympic Medallist Leander Paes, Olympic
boxer Vijender Singh, India's football captain Baichung Bhutia,
Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist Gagan Narang and seven times
World Billiards and Snooker Champion Pankaj Advani were among the
awardees, along with Mr. Mahantesh.
Mr. Mahantesh's personal achievements as a cricketer, as well as his role
in promoting blind cricket, blind chess and athletics were recognized as
part of a short video clipping screened during the awards ceremony.
Mr. G.K. Mahantesh receiving the ?
Mr. G.K. Mahantesh has received several other awards in recognition of NDTV Award
his services:
• Aryabhatta International Award for services rendered to persons
with disability, in 2009
• State Award in recognition of services to children, in 2007
• Vajra Kumar Prashasti in 2011
• Karmaveera Puraskar in 2011
In 2012, Mr. Mahantesh was felicitated in Delhi at the Hindustan Times
coffee table book release by Shri. Jairam Ramesh, Hon' Minister of Rural
Development Govt. of India along with Dipankar Gupta, NAC member,
Aruna Roy, HT Editor-in Chief Sanjoy Narayan, & BJP leader Nirmala
Sitharaman. The book 'India Awakened: Agents of Change' was
brought out by Hindustan Times in partnership with Tata Tea.
Mr. Mahantesh being felicitated
by Shri. Jairam Ramesh
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5. Conferences
Mr. G.K.Mahantesh represented India at the World Blind Union conference held at Geneva, Switzerland
in 2008 and the World Blind Cricket Council's Conference held at Cape Town, South Africa in 1997. He
also presented a paper in the international conference held at Leipzig Germany in 2009.
In 2011, he was invited as to speak at IIM Calcutta, and delivered a talk on 'Innovation in Social Sector'. He
also spoke at the NASSCOM Diversity and Inclusivity Summit, and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
(IIFT).
Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled was awarded:
· Governor's award for Excellence from the Government of Karnataka, 2002
· The India NGO Award, 2006
· State Award in recognition of services rendered to persons with disability, 2009
· Green Star award 2012 for Samarthanam Parisara
Samarthanam Co-Founder Nagesh received the State award 2010 for his services in the field of Disability
WHAT'S NEXT
Barrier-Free school
. A 100% accessible residential school under construction in Bangalore
. Envisaged as a state-of-the-art facility that can cater to around 700 differently-abled & economically
underprivileged students
. Built-up area of 35,000 sq ft at a cost of 8.25 Crores
. 35,000 sq. ft. of land granted by the Government of Karnataka, and Rs. 1 Crore for construction.
Highlights of Proposed School:
• Improved Accessibility :
. Lifts and ramps
. Carpeting and acoustic tiling
. Sign boards to aid the hearing impaired
. Lighting and paint schemes to help the visually impaired
. Information provided through Braille and in large print
• Lectures on audio tapes
• Assistive Technology - Interactive keyboards & whiteboards, Touch-screen computers
• Meditation hall, yoga centre, gymnasium and computer lab
• We are nearing completion of Phase 1, which is the entire hostel block. We would like to take the
opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to Tata Consulting Engineers who planned and managed
the construction of Phase 1.
• Construction is on in full swing – Phase 1 is complete.
• The school is expected to be functional by the end of the year 2013.
Best Compliments from Upcoming Barrier-free School Building
B.Rameshchand Bohra
B.Mangal
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50
www.samarthanam.org www.blindcricket.in
7. Support - Samarthanam CABI
You may draw a cheque in favor of Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled or make a secured online
donation .
Make a contribution to empower blind cricket log on to www.blindcricket.in
Make a general donation or program specific donation log on to www.samarthanam.org
All Donations to Samarthanam are tax exempted under Sec 35AC & 80G.
Samarthanam is registered as a 501C3 Status charity in the US
Contribute towards 'Vidyaprasad' Mid day Meal Programme
Provide mid-day meal to 3 government school children for one year: 3600
Provide mid-day meal to 6 government school children for one year: 7200
Provide mid-day meal to 10 government school children for one year: 12,000.
Provide mid day meal to 12 children for a year: 14,400.
Provide mid-day meal to one school for one month: 75,000.
Provide mid-day meal to one school for one year: 7,50,000.
Contribute towards Education and Hostel
Sponsor a disabled child's school education for one year: Rs 15,000
Sponsor a disabled student's college education for one year: Rs 18,000
Sponsor a day's meal ( 3 meals) – Rs 9500
Sponsor the computer education expenses of a disabled child: 6000
Make a general donation to our education programme: 5000
Donate towards our upcoming disabled friendly residential school
Donate a class room named after your loved ones Rs 4 lacs
Donate any amount of your choice towards Corpus
Donate Rs 1800 per sqft X multiples of your choice
For Donation assistance contact Kumar +91 9449864775, or write to kumar@samarthanam.org
For Donation/ Tax queries contact Sandhya + 91 9449864784 or write to support@samarthanam.org
You may send DD/Cheque to Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, CA-39,
16th Main, Sector -4, HSR layout, Bengaluru – 560102, India
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www.samarthanam.org www.blindcricket.in
8. Best Compliment from
"We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it
takes lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline, and effort."
Mitchell
Best Compliment from RVSC Bose
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With Best Compliments from
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14. With Best Compliments
Social Activity Forum of Elxsians (SAFE),
the CSR team of Tata Elxsi is proud to be
associated with Samarthanam Trust.
15. Participating Countries
India South Africa
Australia Bangladesh
Nepal Srilanka
England West Indies
Souvenir Team
Foreword: Rajiv Anil Roark
59 Pakistan Design: Binoy, Kishore Joseph
Coordination: Kumaraswamy C.R.
Arundhati Venkatesh (Editor)
www.samarthanam.org www.blindcricket.in
16. Highlights Of
SBI T20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind
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17. Support
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KUDREMUKH
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(A Government of India Enterprise)
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TARGET R
INTERNATIONAL
GIVING PROGRAM
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