Social Impact Awards 2007
January 17, 2007

Social Impact Awards (SIA) was initiated in the year 2005 by the Center for Development of Corporate Citizenship, SPJIMR. It was instituted to recognize and appreciate the success stories in the social sector and showcase its impact on the society. This year the focus was on the success stories in the work done for the disabled sector by various organizations.

Social Impact Awards (SIA) was initiated in the year 2005 by the Center for Development of Corporate Citizenship, SPJIMR. It was instituted to recognize and appreciate the success stories in the social sector and showcase its impact on the society. This year the focus was on the success stories in the work done for the disabled sector by various organizations. Differently Abled’. The award ceremony was attended by dignitaries from the social and corporate sector like Mrs Rufina Fernandes, CEO of the NASSCOM Foundation; Col S R Yeri, CEO of the Queen Marys Technical Institute for the Disabled Personnel of the Armed forces and Mr Ketan Kotari, Asst. Director of the National Association for the Blind.

The response was overwhelming and the large quantum of work done by these organizations in the disability sector was very humbling. This year three winners were chosen for their exemplary work. The criteria put forth by the jury in selection of theaward winners were Adversity Quotient, Livelihood / Employment opportunities, Degree of compassion, Sustained performance, Institutionalization, Content. The three winners were: ‘Helpers of the handicapped’, an organisation from Kolhapur working for more than 22 years for total rehabilitation of persons with disabilities. They provide free medical aid, hostel facilities and school education to boys and girls and vocational training and employment to adult school drop outs and illiterate physically handicapped men and women.

‘Shri Pragna Chakshu Mahila Seva Kunj’ is an NGO devoted to the upliftment of blind girls. The organisation is committed to the welfare, survival, protection, sanitation, participation, development and empowerment of underprivileged poor girls with impaired vision. This institute was started by Mrs Muktaben Pankajbhai Dagli who is the Executive Director of the organisation.

’The S P J Sadhana School for the mentally challenged’ is an NGO that has been working for the past 33years, to create awareness and seeking to mainstream the Mentally Challenged into industry.