The Indian Diaspora in the US are a proud lot nowadays with so many positives being heard around the globe about our country and its people such as dynamic global leader Indian PM, economic potential, our frugal and effective Mangalyan mission, Nobel Prize for Satyarthi and the many strides that Indian doctors, entrepreneurs and technocrats have taken at the national stage in the US.
The NRI community has many times taken up upon themselves the cause of the country and helped it address many issues in the past. As proud children of mother India to share the many blessings and knowledge that they have gained with their families and fellow countrymen in India in many ways.
“Voice of Specially Abled People” (VoSAP – www.voiceofsap.com is one such undertaking by Pranav Desai from Los Angeles who has the vision of changing the perspective towards the Specially Abled People of India, approx 70 million. Specially Abled People in the US have been empowered to live an independent life whereas in India they are mostly relegated to a life of dependence, poverty and indignity. VoSAP is committed to give its mite for a change in this area.
Pranav Desai, Vice President with world’s 6th largest IT services company, has polio since age of 4. An engineering student and an activist since college days, he has not only met India PM Narendra Modi whom he knows since 1988, but also his team – eight ministers and several MPs explaining the objective, motive and purpose behind the VoSA movement.
He has also met with Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and his team, several corporate leaders including Chairman of Reliance Industries, PepsiCo and other CEOs, CSR and HR heads to make a strong economic argument, beyond traditional social and welfare perspective.
Pranav believes that education and mobility can help empower Specially Abled Persons so he is promoting accessibility, transportation, employment and skill development to empower millions of SAP.
India has thousands of NGOs working in the disability sector and there is a felt need of a strong advocacy organization that can influence India’s top leaders (elected, social, corporate and media) as they have the power to implement the change. www.voiceofsap.com is aimed at filling this gap at the top level (top-down approach to bring in large scale societal change) by creating a vibrant community of all the stakeholders (individuals, NGOs, solution providers, experts, volunteers, companies) and create a strong influencing voice that will impact policy, programs and implementation. This will foster the way to creating proud inclusive 21st century Indian society that cares and respects the needs and rights of Specially Abled People.
VoSAP believes that empowerment of the Specially Abled People is possible by positioning this large population (6%) as a strong support group like in the US and other mature democracies. VoSAP also believes that economic argument offers more sustainable solutions instead of the traditional welfare and entitlements. Proposition is that this is an “untapped” market opportunity, branding opportunity, human capital opportunity to improve both topline and bottom line of the company by adopting the strategies around this sector.
To achieve the vision of “Barrier-free India” by 2020, Vision 2020 was developed in January 2014. Pranav Desai and his team of volunteers could get seven transformational commitments into the election manifesto of BJP (India’s ruling party), that became the priorities of the current Central government.
Voice of SAP has started Accessible Bharat Abhiyan, efforts to make India’s infrastructure accessible. The core theme here is physical accessibility and as a result of this ABA intends to make all government buildings, schools, banks, public and office buildings and modes of transportation accessible with safety for SAP. PM Shri Narendra Modi had announced in his national address (“Maan Ki Baat”) on November 2 to allocate Rs 1 lakh per school to make them accessible.
Another initiative is Employment through Skill development. VoSAP has undertaken a target of getting 1 million Specially Abled People employed by 2022 (75 years of celebrating India’s Independence) because employment brings empowerment and dignity not only for the SAP but also the family. VoSAP has partnered with very dedicated organizations, who can scale up to bring this vision to reality by providing training and skill development programs.
We are living in historic times and believe in the high probability to change social perspective, adopt inclusive business practices, upgrade infrastructure and make it accessible, improve legal framework and create conditions to mainstream this 6% of India’s population. Today’s technology solutions, Digital India and Make in India initiatives of Government, strong political will at the helm, availability of sustained CSR funds by law and young India – ready to adopt more inclusive perspective, all these factors have come together to make the impact, change the lives of millions of Specially Abled People.
The team of VoSAP, is a volunteer team. It encourages every reader to visit the website, join the team, contribute in any way possible like thought leadership, expertise, network of contacts that can be leveraged to bolster this voice.
Usha Desai
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