Long ago, towards the end of the last century, when we set out to achieve a grand target of making persons with Intellectual disability employable.  We also realized that in order for the enmasse education of children with disabilities, avenues for later life development – livelihood, income generation – would have to be created.

Since there were no examples of sustainable employment practices with this group to model upon, it was left to the management to develop a strategy. Logically it appeared that it would be desirable to develop:

  1. a training facility with a manufacturing endpoint that utilized the strengths of this group:
    • Ability to learn and carry out simple repetitive tasks
    • Regular attendance (their parents were keen they left the house to enable them – the parents – to carry out their own economic activities)
    • Deep conditioning in obedience and Eager to please
  1. products that utilized basic manufacturing processes that were endemic to the region
  2. raw material that was low-cost, widely available and easy to procure
  3. a product line that had a unique quality
  4. master trainers who were easily available.

 

In 2001, when the children of Prabhat grew into young adults, the effort to find a suitable area of work that was easy to make, low-cost and attractive to consumers led to the conceptualization of recycling Temple flowers – flowers easy to procure as temples were everywhere. In a couple of years, the ensuing products generated enough revenue to power the growth of the venture, and start the “Trash to Cash” program, where other potential discards materials were sourced from offices, factories and homes.

 

Young adults with Intellectual disability began earning, much to the surprise of their families, and the balance income generated new initiatives like purchasing a handloom to weave audio tapes! Like buying an industrial blender to make handmade paper from surplus textiles. Like collecting newspapers which when ground into a pulp could be converted to paper machie t-light holders.

 

Over the years, education was expanded to include those with other impairments and handicraft techniques, as well as the recycling and upcycling of a vast variety of surplus materials and discards.

 

Continuity: In 2019, just before the pandemic hit, at any given time 150 persons with disability were earning regularly, revenue was at a record 60 lakhs per year with no financial investments at any point in time.

 

The concept is strong, as these 150 persons with disability continue to earn till date! As also the others trained over the years.

 

This entire ecosystem is designed with one perspective in mind – create a platform of equal opportunities for people with disabilities.

In the 29 years, persons with disability who joined as novices under training, are today in the management. Ninety percent of the staff are such persons.