HI 
EN Swabhiman is a registered non-profit and one of India’s first cross-disability organizations. It has been a part of the disability rights movement from the passage of PwD Act 1995, CRPD 2006 and India’s ratification, amendment of RTE Act, to the recent RPwD Act 2016; with a focus to create rights-based environment in India for persons with disabilities.
Swabhiman has demonstrated strong leadership and expertise in addressing disability from the rights, development and inclusion perspective. It has actively engaged with NGOs and DPOs from across the state (OSdN) and the country (NDN & NCRPD) and has brought about several policy changes that have positively impacted the lives of persons with disabilities in India and Odisha. Swabhiman works at the international level with CDPF (Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum), and DPI – Disabled People’s International – India chapter. For development of the disability sector and mainstreaming disability into the state’s development agenda, Swabhiman focuses on supporting school education, strengthening youth for availing employment opportunities, increasing public awareness on the issue of disability, working towards accessible cities, building capacities and conducting research for enabling advocacy.
Swabhiman is registered under the Societies Registration Act of 1860 in India (21490/66 of 2002-2003), is an income tax-exempt organization under IT Act (!2A & 80G). It is also registered under FCRA Act and NGO Darpan.
Significant Policy Impacts
- 2019 – Accessible Elections in India – Voting process made accessible for disabled people in the General Elections of 2004/2009/2014/2019
- 2016 – The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (RPwD Act) 2016 – Drafting, lobbying, awareness, advocacy and visibility.
- 2016-17 – Recognized by Department of School and Mass Education to provide technical inputs in developing teacher training module on inclusive education.
- 2015-16 Setting up of Independent Department “Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with DisAbilitiesâ€
- 2014-15 – Designation of Minister as “Minister Disability,†formation of the “Disability Directorateâ€
- 2012 – First Disability Profiling in India of a state (Odisha) – outcomes – Disability certification at CHC & PHC, Scholarships to Children of Disabled Parents, Designation of DSWO to DSSO (From charity to rights)
- 2011 – Conducted a successful “Census Campaign†at national level and in Odisha state. Odisha having higher disability percentage (2.9%) as compared to national average of (2.21%).
- 2010 – Appointment of independent Disability Commissioner in Odisha.
- 1999 – Initiated Ramp Culture of Odisha
Significant Impressions
- Infused 45000 children with inclusive education and joyful learning concept through Anjali.
- Brought 454 children with disabilities back to school.
- Trained 5000 college/university students for becoming Change Agents for Inclusiveness.
- Building inclusive society – 157,000+have gained awareness about disAbility, Inclusion and the potential of persons with disAbilities.
- Employment of 367 youth and adults with disAbilities by linkages with jobs and self-employment supports.
- Supported 1000+ meritorious students for higher education
- Audited 700+ government buildings to make it accessible.
Present Member in Committees
- Vice President Indian Red Cross Society, Odisha branch.
- Vice-President Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum, London
- Member, Syndicate, Rama Devi Women’s University, Odisha
- Member, Anti- Ragging Committee Ravenshaw University Katak
- Member, Advisory Board NSS of IIT, Bhubaneswar
- Member, National Committee on Rights of the Disabled, New Delhi
- Member, National Disability Network
- Member – Governing Body Mother’s Public School
- Convenor, Odisha State disAbility Network
- Member, Institutional Ethics Committee, Utkal University
- Member, Internal Quality Assessment Committee, Ramadevi University
- Member, East Coast Railways (Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee)
- Member, Expert Committee – Odisha State Open University, Sambalpur
Contact Person: Dr. Sruti Mohapatra
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