Vice President of India, Shri. Jagdeep Dhankhar inaugurates Sarthak Global Resource Centre in Gurugram to empower the differently-abled

Gurugram: Sarthak Educational Trust, a pioneering NGO committed to mainstreaming and empowering Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in India today formally launched the “Sarthak Global Resource Centre”, India’s one-stop-solution for Divyangjan from across the country in Gurugram. The Sarthak GRC which is the need of the hour risen from the persistent gaps in services, resources, and attitudes that currently hinder the progress of PwDs was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Hon’ble Vice President of India, Shri. Jagdeep Dhankhar on Sat. 9th Dec 2023 in Sector 45, Gurugram in the presence of other dignitaries like Mr. Om Prakash Yadav, Minister of State (Independent Charge), Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of Haryana, Mr. Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Government of India and Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, Sarthak Educational Trust.

GRC is the brainchild of Sarthak Educational Trust, a trailblazing organization with a rich history of fostering disability inclusion since 2008. Sarthak’s expertise in Health, Education, Skill Building, Employment, and Advocacy for PwDs lays the foundation for GRC’s impact and is ably supported and funded by Amazon Development India being the largest contributor, HT Parekh Foundation who have also contributed immensely both in monetary terms & in spirit, KUEHNE+Nagal Private Limited, Credit Suisse, Fidelity International, NIIF, Team Computers, Renew Power Pvt Ltd and NAAI activities are ably supported by DEPwD, Tata Power and MEPSC.

While speaking at the launch event, Chief Guest Hon’ble Vice-President of India, Shri. Jagdeep Dhankhar shared “I feel I am at the right place today. Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, his energy & his vision has inspired me. The Haryana Government and the Centre should work in collaboration to implement their initiatives. The WEST is looking at us now. Bharat is set to become a developed nation by 2030. And, this change is going to affect common people and their development which will also lead to the revolution in empowerment of Divyangjan in the country. I am also thankful for corporate who are taking an active interest in the development of Divyangjan through the right education and employment opportunities by making the right use of their CSR funds. The need of the hour is that we empower the Divyang, Women & the oppressed. I congratulate Sarthak on the 15-year journey in which they have helped over 70000 PwDs across the nation which is a big number. We have to create an ecosystem and empower the PwD with the right skills. The disabled do not need sympathy but we should exploit their wealth of knowledge and their expertise. Disability is which is not just physical but also mental, and spiritual. Sarthak has shown me the right path. I am inspired, motivated & energized and will use the knowledge to contribute in any kind. I extend my invitation to Team Sarthak on the last day of the Parliament session, so they can observe the accessible infrastructure of the new Parliament building”.

This centre will serve as a hub for education and skilling of PwDs and will play a pivotal role in enhancing their lives. PwDs constitute over 5% of the total country’s population and there is a need to reach out to them to give them opportunities to work and earn self-respect. by training or learning skills to earn a livelihood.

Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Founder & CEO, Sarthak Educational Trust shared, “Today is a momentous occasion for us all as we are opening the Sarthak Global Resource Center for the Persons with Disabilities. This temple of education and skilling will benefit all and will reach the farthest rural places of the country. In 2008, when we started, we did over 100 round table conferences in all the regions of the country and we created 100 job opportunities and have empowered 70000 Persons with Disabilities (PwD’s). In 2014, we decided to take a more holistic approach to help with the complete life cycle of Divyangjan right from Early Intervention to Skilling to Job opportunity to retirement. Today we have 2000 corporate partners with global powerhouses like Amazon India, HT Parekh Foundation etc. The Global Resource Center for People with Disabilities (GRC) is a groundbreaking initiative that will stand as a beacon of hope for individuals with diverse abilities across the country. GRC has opened its doors in Gurugram, with the staunch support of the Haryana Government and our funding partners. This transformative space will emerge as a testament to the commitment of our nation towards building a more inclusive society”.

Mr. Abhinav Singh, VP of Customer Fulfilment, Amazon Transportation Services, Global Specialty Fulfilment, and Supply Chain at Amazon India, said, “The launch of the Global Resource Center marks a significant milestone in our commitment to empowering people with disabilities worldwide. This collaboration with Sarthak Education Trust will provide them with the skills, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive in today’s digital economy. We are proud to play a part in creating a more inclusive and accessible world for all.”

Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Founder & CEO of Sarthak Educational Trust further added, “Our Vision 2027 includes Empowerment of 10 Million PwDs across India, Sustainable Employment & Entrepreneurship for 0.2 Million skilled Youth with Disabilities, Expanding the CSO partner network under IDEA with 1000 partners; Supporting organizations in 50 developing countries; State-of-the-Art Global Resource Center in Gurugram and Hosting the 11th International Abilympics in India in 2027.Our strategic shift to focus on Tier 2-3 cities and in-house training aims to bridge the gap between demand and availability of skilled people with disabilities. We are determined to place 7500 people with disabilities with Amazon India, ITC, Indiamart, Radisson, Indigo, Reliance Retail, IHG and more next year, aligning with our mission of creating inclusive opportunities and empowering every individual, regardless of location.”

Sarthak Global Resource Center’s design incorporates facilities like Vision in Dark to the Ability Museum to Employment Portals, Training Wings, Rehab Center and more. The Centre will house training and skilling departments and facilities that can deal with any disability. By providing a centralized space for innovation, empowerment, and collaboration, GRC seeks to bridge these gaps, creating a holistic ecosystem where PwDs can thrive and contribute their talents to society. Sarthak Educational Trust has been working since 2008 and in the last 15 years has successfully reached out to 4% (0.8 million) of population of Persons with Disabilities (Pwd) in India and Trained – 70,000 and Placed – 38000+ PwDs empowering them excel in their fields and inspire many.

Sarthak Educational Trust has a presence through 25 centers across the country-New Delhi (4), Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Lucknow, Bhopal, Jaipur, Kolkata, Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Guwahati, Vishakhapatnam, Chennai, Thane, Patna, Varanasi, Ahmedabad, and are actively engaged in creating productive citizens of India through a life cycle approach – Early Intervention, Inclusive Education, Skill Development, Employment Generation, and Advocacy programs. For more details about free programs please visit (www.sarthakindia.org).