Six achievers from across the country honored.
Mumbai, 6th February 2018: Diversified FMCG Conglomerate, CavinKare Pvt Ltd and National NGO Ability Foundation, honored 6 remarkable achievers with disabilities at the 16th Edition of CavinKare Ability Awards 2018. Held at Sir Mutha Venkatasubba Rao Auditorium, the award function recognized and showcased exemplary success of people with disabilities.
The evening kickstarted with a rap song by well known rapper and host for the evening, Blaaze. His introductory rap in sign language was a key highlight of the event. The evening’s cultural component was a scintillating solo dance performance by well known actor/dancer Vineeth.
What then followed was a veritable array of outstanding awardees, who inspired and stimulated the entire audience at the hall. These were 6 people with disabilities who had gone through enormous hurdles, struggles, trials and tribulations to have achieved great heights. The audience had the opportunity to learn about and to appreciate these fabulous achievements of the recipients. The evening ended on a high-note with both the recipients of the awards as well as the audience leaving as inspired and empowered individuals.
In its 16 year journey, the CavinKare Ability Awards has recognized admirable achievements of people with disabilities. Over 80 awardees have stood testimony for breaking stereotypes and challenging the mindset of the society towards disability.
These one-of-its’s-kind national level awards conceived and curated by Mr. C.K Ranganathan, CMD, CavinKare Pvt Ltd and Ms. Jayshree Raveendran, Founder & Hon. Executive Director, Ability Foundation to showcase the latent talents of people with disabilities. The awards bring into limelight the achievementsof disabled individuals who have triumphed over colossal barriers in pursuit of their dreams.
Speaking about this year's edition, Mr. C.K Ranganathan, CMD, CavinKare Pvt. Ltd. said, “The CavinKare Ability Awards continue to inspire us year on year with some immensely talented individuals showcasing talents and strength beyond imagination. The journey began sixteen years ago with a single objective of celebrating people who have made heads turn with their achievements. Today as we stand on this platform recognizing more such achievers, a sense of enlightenment and happiness overcomes our heart. CavinKare Ability Awards have taught all of us that believing in oneself is always the key to success.”
Ms. JayshreeRaveendran, Founder & Honorary Executive Director, Ability Foundation, said, “We have always believed that it is very important to make India sit up and understand the issue of disability better, to change mindsets of the general public and these Awards are a very important step towards our goal. Presenting these awards itself is challenging as it takes a discerning jury to study the nominations and the reports of all the nominees and mull over who to award. In the bargain, the mindsets of the members of the jury themselves get sensitized. Presenting these awards each year is a challenging as well as illuminating affair in itself.”
Every year, an eminent panel of jury members, comprising nationally acclaimed persons from all walks of lives,go through the reports and the films made on the shortlisted nominees through visits by a regional representativeand selectthe recipients.
The nomination process for the awards begin as early as 3 months ahead of the event through announcements in all national media and through sister organisations. The nominations thus received are meticulously screened and shortlisted, based on the awardees’ difficulty levels, triumph over adversity and uniqueness of the task accomplished.
The awards fall into two categories: Eminence and Mastery.
The Award for Eminence salutes the achievements of a person with disability, who has not only overcome great odds but has also initiated his/her own organization to contribute to the society. This award carries a citation, a trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 2 lakhs.
The Mastery Awards is presented to three or four individuals with disabilities in recognition of their extraordinary achievement in any field of their choice. The recipients of this award receive a citation, trophy and a cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh.
The CavinKare Ability Special Recognition Award is yet another category of the award given to a person with disability who is also an acknowledged leader in the disability sector with exceptional achievements – either on the personal or the organizational front – inspiring awe and meriting a special mention in the Awards. This is an honorary award that carries a citation and a trophy.
This year’s achievers are:
CavinKare Special Recognition Award:
DR . SRUTI MOHAPATRA
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Dr. Sruti Mohapatra’s work has always focussed on the rights of persons with disability. She is the Founder and CEO of Swabhiman, a disability information and resource centre. Her brainchild Anjali is a project for inclusive and joyful learning. She has conceptualised innovative programs such as Sandhan and Swabalamban. At the time of the accident which resulted in quadriplegia, she was a achiever in academics and sports. Unstoppable even after, she completed a Ph.D, has written over 100 articles and several books and is a member of many important committees in government and civil society
CavinKare Award for Eminence:
MAHANTESH GATTIVALAPPA KIVADASANNAVAR
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Mahantesh G.K. is the Founder and Managing Trustee of Samarthanam that works to empower visually impaired, disabled and marginalised persons. Samarthanam's initiatives include inclusive and accessible education, skill development, culture and environment as well as the promotion of blind cricket. Mahantesh is a cricket player and President of the Cricket Association for the Blind in India and World Blind Cricket Limited. He is also the Founder- Director of B Care that works to prevent AIDS and rehabilitate people living with HIV/AIDS
CavinKare Ability Mastery Awards:
RAJU RAMESHWAR UPRADE
Pune, Maharashtra
Raju RameshwarUpradeworks as an engineer at the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope of TIFR. He is a poet and writer too. Raju has congenital Achondroplasia. As a result, he is short-statured and has complications related to spine and lungs. Not letting disability, financial constraints or rejections impede him, he completed his B.E. in Information Technology, was a university topper and is today a successful professional.
GAURI SHEKHAR GADGIL
Pune, Maharashtra
Gauri acted in the successful Marathi film 'Yellow', which won her a National Special Mention Jury Award as Best Child Actress. A person with Down syndrome, Gauri is a multiple Special Olympics Award winner and a national-level swimmer across disciplines. Recently, she won the Gold Medal in UPIM Biathle World Tour 2016. She is also a trained Bharatanatyam dancer and has completed her graduation in Sociology.
JASMINA KHANNA
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Jasmina Khanna has not let cerebral palsy or societal hurdles come in the way of academic achievements and a successful career. She completed school with high scores, a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and an M.A. in Sociology, before she turned to computers and equipped herself with an array of certifications . She has worked for Syntel India for the last seven years. In addition to a passion for writing, Jasmina is also a committed activist on disability issues.
DR . ROSHAN JAWAD SHAIKH
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Dr. Roshan Jawad Shaikh underwent a bilateral amputation as a result of a ghastly train accident. She willed herself to move on, doing well academically and aspiring to be a doctor. When the medical council disqualified her on grounds of her disability being over 70%, she turned to the law. The court awarded a judgment in her favour and today she is a full-fledged doctor. She is now gearing up to do her post graduation, with the goal of becoming a surgeon.
About CavinKarePvt. Ltd: CavinKare is a diversified FMCG major with business interests in personal care, professional care, dairy, snacks, foods, beverages and salons. The brand portfolio consists of Shampoos (Chik, Meera, Karthika and Nyle), Hair Wash Powders (Meera &Karthika), Coconut Oil (Meera), Fairness creams (Fairever), Deodorant & Talc (Spinz), Pickles & Snacks (Ruchi, Chinni’s & Garden), Hair Colours (Indica), Retail Salon Products (Raaga Professional), Beverages (Maa), Dairy (Cavin’s), and Beauty Salons (Green Trends &Limelite). Most of the brands are clear winners in their respective product categories.
A dedicated R&D center equipped with latest equipment and technologies constantly supports the divisions in their endeavour. Today with a turnover of aboutRs. 1450 crore, CavinKare has achieved many significant milestones, while acquiring a competitive edge, backed by sound understanding of the dynamics of mass marketing in order to establish a firm foothold in the national market.
CavinKare’s success is based on its firmly grounded corporate mission- ‘we shall achieve growth by continuously offering unique products and services that would give customers utmost satisfaction and thereby be a role model’.
About Ability Foundation: Established in 1995, with a philosophy much ahead of its times, Ability Foundation today, stands tall as a national cross disability umbrella organization that has incessantly worked across the country towards an equitable society for every citizen with disability.
Headquartered in Chennai, the Foundation focuses on empowerment and highlighting the potential of persons with disabilities, and moves steadfastly towards bridging the divide between people with and without disabilities.
The areas of Ability Foundation's involvement include information dissemination, advocacy, promotion of inclusive education, diversity in the workplace, rights and public policy. Towards these, Ability Foundation's activities range from publishing, employment, media, culture, implementation of policy, legislation and human rights.
Ability Foundation works on the strong conviction that the disability per se, is not as handicapping as people's attitudes and man-made barriers. Given the right opportunities at the right time, so much more is possible. All it takes is an open mind.