Newsletter Highlights!!!
ADVOCACY:
VOSAP Advocacy with Compassionate National Leaders
Advocacy with Govt officers, Disability NGO, Spiritual Leaders
Advocacy with Corporate Leaders
ENABLEMENT EVENTS:
Dec 29: Empowering with Mobility
Jan 2: Providing Self-Employment Kits
Jan 12: Enablement of SAP in Goa
UPCOMING EVENTS:
4 events in 4 states in FEB 2024
Dear friends and supporters,
This is our 1st newsletter of 2024 so wishing you a Happy New Year! This Special Edition content is mainly on our transformative Vision 2047 for Divyangjan. We all can strive to achieve $1 Tn goal of economic contribution by year 2047 for Viksit Bharat so request your thoughtful insights, comments and ideas!
The year 2024 started with great meeting on Jan 1st with Dr Priti Adani, Chairperson of Adani Foundation ($40 B Adani Group) and then 30+ strateggic meetings with leaders in Delhi, Goa and Gujarat during 3 weeks India trip of VOSAP Founder, Shri Pranav Desai.
He took on a strategic advocacy mission aimed at presenting and rallying everyone for
Vision 2047 for Divyangjan – an initiative to empower India’s Specially Abled population to actively contribute to the nation’s economic growth, ultimately achieving a $1 Trillion contribution to the economy by the disability sector for “Viksit Bharat” goal in year 2047.
ADVOCACY meetings for Vision 2047:
Honorable Finance Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman ji: Pranav Desai had the privilege of presenting comprehensive Tax Incentives Package for empowering Divyangjan to the Finance Minister. This package is designed to support the achievement of the $1 trillion goal by 2047 by jump starting economic activities, providing tax incentives to actions taken by businesses and individuals.
Hon. Member of Parliament and President of BJP, Shri J. P. Nadda ji: Pranav Desai presented Vision 2047 for Divyangjan to Shri J. P. Nadda, seeking his support for BJP manifesto to include proposed 10 points. Mr Desai also explained strategic importance for the economic argument to transform disability sector instead traditional view point of looking at disability sector from welfare perspective only.
Hon. Cabinet Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar ji and Pranav Desai discussed collaborative initiatives between VOSAP and DEPwD for their schemes (ADIP, Niramaya, Gharaunda, providing loan under NDFDC etc.) that can enhance the impact, outcomes – empowerment of Specially Abled individuals, aligned to economic impact of Vision 2047.
Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India Hon. Shri Nitin Gadkari ji and Pranav Desai discussed accessibility and road transportation issues faced by individuals with disabilities, aiming to improve mobility and ensure their active participation with “Accessibility Everywhere” In transportation. Mr Desai also proposed mandating /recommended level of hiring of Divyangjan by the ministry and outsourced vendors.
VOSAP Founder also met with Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Persons with Disabilities (DePwD), Govt. of India to establish a cooperative framework between DEPwD and VOSAP for the implementation and enhancement of government schemes.
Meeting with Chairman and Managing Director of NDFDC (National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation), Shri Naveen Shah, focused on how lending can be increased, working of SCA (State Channelizing Agencies) and ways VOSAP can help in identifying entreprenurs, provide them additional financial support etc. for supporting self-employment.
VOSAP was a partner for the International Purple Fest, Goa. Great leadership team under Hon Cabinet Minister of Goa, Shri Subhash ji, Pawaskar ji and Taha ji to inspire 10,000+, all key players of disability to Goa for 6 days!!!
In addition Dr Karen Darke, VOSAP Ambassador addressing during inauguration as KeyNote speaker, VOSAP signed historic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Government of Goa, making it the first state of India to work with VOSAP, for Vision 2047 for Divyangjan.
VOSAP thanks Hon CM of Goa Dr Pramod Sawant ji for supporting to create an inclusive and accessible Goa with clear focus on economic activities to harness ABILITY of Specially Abled People.
Watch our Impact at Goa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Meeting with Honorable Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Bhupendrabhai Patel was presented the ambitious Vision 2047 for Divyangjan and how Gujarat as economic engine of the nation can take leadership in economic contribution in Disability sector also.
Hon. CM shown great commitment and asked VOSAP founder to provide draft MoU, which VOSAP is actively working to solidify this collaboration, driving outcomes together.
Meeting with Dr. Priti Adani, Chairperson of Adani Foundation: VOSAP Founder had a high impact 90 minutes meeting with Dr. Priti Adani and her team of 6 leaders to explore and create opportunities for employment of persons with disabilities across various business units of Adani.
This strategic collaboration through MoU (under works) aims to leverage the strengths and resources of Adani Foundation and strong intention to hire up to 10,000 PwD (example like deaf people for solar installation jobs) at large scale for selected jobs, create roadmap and execute the strategy with VOSAP as the strategic advisor.
VOSAP Founder and team met with Dr. Mallika Nadda, Chairperson of Special Olympics of India with her team Mr. Victor Vaz, National Sports Director, Ms Mukta Narain Thind and others.
They discussed, how both teams can work together to help Intellectual Disabled People, how VOSAP can help being the US based organization, connecting to US leaders of Special Olympics etc. to do better in next Special Olympics.
VOSAP Founder received blessings of Jejeshri in Ahmedabad:
With his blessings, Voice of SAP and Vaishnav Innerfaith Pushtimargiya Organisation (VIPO) decided to work together to promote Volunteering and other programs among Vaishnav Youth, globally regarding Divyangjan and their inclusion.
VOSAP Founder received blessings from Acharya Lokesh Muni ji at his Ashram in Karol Bag, New Delhi for the VOSAP mission, for economic argument on disability with our Vision 2047 for Divyangjan.
Pujya Acharya ji liked the vision and approach and agreed to encourage, share this with his followers and leaders so that top-down transformation with NEW way of looking at Divyangjan becomes driver for their economic prosperity.
Meeting with leaders of Ahmedabad Management Association (AMA): Adding another dimension to the outreach efforts, Shri Pranav Desai met at the Ahmedabad Management Association, talking to a diverse business leaders.
This platform provided an opportunity to spread awareness about VOSAP’s Vision 2047, fostering understanding and support from a broader spectrum of the management and business community.
Advocating for accessibility at every polling booth: VOSAP Founder was invited as a guest during an Accessible Voting workshop at the Blind People’s Association. This event was a critical platform for discussions on making the voting process more accessible and inclusive. Shri Pranav Desai engaged with Mrs. P. Bharati, CEO of the Election Commission of Gujarat, to explore ways of incorporating accessible and inclusive voting practices. The focus was not only on making the physical voting booths more accessible but also on integrating a rating system for voting booths on the VOSAP mobile app.
Enablement of Specially Abled People at Goa on Jan 12:
VOSAP provided innovative assistive devices such as the Kibo XS Device, Kibo App, innovative crutches, and Smartcane.
Dignitaries such as Hon Cabinet Minister, Goa for IT and Tourism, Shri Rohan Khaunte ji, Hon Minister of Social Welfare, Goa Shri Subhash PhalDessai ji, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Shri Guruprasad Pawaskar ji, Secretary of State Commission for Persons with Disabilities Shri Taha Haaziq ji were present at the event.
Enablement event on Dec 30 at Apang Manav Mandal:
VOSAP event was organized by Apang Manav Mandal in Ahmedabad to enable Specially Abled individuals with Handicare devices.
These assistive devices are designed to provide respectful and dignified mobility to individuals facing mobility challenges.
VOSAP founder also launched ‘Mobula’, battery operated scooter.
Self-Employment Kits distributed on Jan 2 at BPA
These kits included a variety of tools and resources tailored to harness different skill sets, such as beauty parlour kits, physiotherapy kits, sewing machines, electrical kits, and more. The objective was to equip individuals with the means to generate income and contribute actively to society. VOSAP team, 15 volunteers and donors from USA also joined the event.
Shri Pranav Desai addressed the gathering, urging Divyangjan to work towards economic independence and contribute to the ambitious Vision 2047.
Overall, the 2024 has started with a very promising future for possible economic inclusion by 2047 and growing support by leaders across Bharat, from corporate, political, government, elected, disability and Assistive Tech sectors while thousands of Divyangjan in Delhi, Gujarat and Goa mobilized, inspired for doing their part to achieve Vision 2047 goal of $1 Trillion from disability sector.
UPCOMING EVENTS :
- Enablement of Specially Abled People with Indian Army (34 Assam Rifles) at Srinagar celebrating Republic Day of India : Feb 8
- Enablement of Secially Abled People event at Surendranagar: Feb 7
- Enablement of Secially Abled People event at Kolhapur and Belgaum: February 18 and February 25
- Art from Heart Contest for Students in Sugarland, Texas : March 02
