Sarthak Educational Trust and the National Abilympic Association of India (NAAI) are hosting their 16th Foundation Day, with the launch of their IPO – Zero Coupon Zero Principle on the Social Stock Exchange with SIDBI listed on NSE. This landmark initiative underscores Sarthak’s commitment to advancing community engagement, cultivating empowerment, and striving for success in the field of disability inclusion.
The theme for this year’s celebration is “ACCESS: Advancing Community, Cultivating Empowerment, Striving for Success.” The event will bring together distinguished guests, including our Chief Guest, Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Ramesh Bais, to reflect on Sarthak’s journey and its unwavering commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities. Over the past 16 years, Sarthak Educational Trust has established a robust presence across 20 states in India through 25 centers dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities and promoting a life of dignity and respect. Through its pioneering initiatives, Sarthak has provided skilling and employment to over 80,000+ persons with disabilities in collaboration with over 2000 corporate partners, including Accenture, IBM Amazon and others.
Dr Jitender Aggarwal Founder & CEO, Sarthak Educational shares, “As we celebrate 16 years of Sarthak Educational Trust, we are reminded of the remarkable journey of empowerment and inclusion we have embarked upon. Together, we are advancing community, cultivating empowerment and striving for success, ensuring that every individual with a disability can live a life of dignity and respect. With our first IPO launch on the Social Stock Exchange will enable us to raise essential funds, further enhancing our capacity to expand services and initiatives that empower individuals with disabilities. It signifies a pivotal step towards our larger mission of fostering comprehensive disability inclusion across India and beyond.”
Sarthak’s commitment to inclusivity is further demonstrated by its partnerships with more than 850 NGOs, forming the India Disability Empowerment Alliance (IDEA) to reach individuals with disabilities in remote and underserved areas. Additionally, in collaboration with IDFC, Sarthak is now working for capacity building of NGOs focusing on Early Intervention across India.
The recent launch of the unique Global Resource Centre (SGRC) in Sector-45, Gurugram, is a groundbreaking development. This accessible hub caters to the diverse needs of individuals with disabilities, from childhood to livelihood. The SGRC includes lifecycle-based services for PwDs, Vision in the Dark, Ability Museum, and the Global Accessibility Development Center promoting startups and affordable technology in the disability sector.
Extending its reach beyond national borders, Sarthak has established its first international office in London, UK. This global expansion has fostered connections with over 60 organizations from more than 8 countries through webinars and e-meetups.
In response to the challenges posed by the global COVID-19 pandemic, Sarthak has leveraged digital transformation, benefiting over 96,000 Divyang users through innovative platforms such as the CapSarathi Information Portal, RozgarSarathi Job Portal and the Gyan Sarathi E-Learning portal. These digital platforms are instrumental in providing accessible information, employment opportunities and educational resources to individuals with disabilities.
Through its subsidiary, the National Abilympic Association of India, Sarthak has achieved remarkable success in international competitions, securing 7 medals and the 7th position among 27 participating nations. For the 11th International event, Sarthak has already conducted 3 regional events to screen talents across India, with the fourth and fifth scheduled in October in Jamshedpur and Bengaluru.
Sarthak and NAAI will be organizing its 10th National Conference on Disability, alongwith National Abilympics competitions for regional winners from all five zones in Dec 2024 in 15 skill categories in Delhi NCR.
