Before a constraint shows up in the world it first shows up in the human mind and eventually exists in the agreements that are formed. The fundamental barrier for people is, this agreement, that there are only a limited set of possibilities for people with disabilities. This challenge cannot be addressed in the same realm of thinking that has gotten us where we are. It requires new thinking. Astha’s work enables people with disabilities, their friends, family and society at large to think beyond the box of socially constructed norms regarding disability and abilities of persons with disabilities.
Exploring potential, living joyously, living a life of complete participation is not even a dream for most people with disabilities.
Astha's work is inspired by the motto "newly possible" for every project we plan. This motto guides us to ignite the dreams of a growing number of people with disabilities in India.
Astha's work focuses on building an inclusive ecosystem in India within which persons with disabilities are equally contributing members along side their non-disabled peers.
Astha's work creates increasing opportunities for interaction among the disabled and non-disabled people living in India. This approach enhances opportunities for both the groups to know one another better. This approach blurs the boundaries between the two groups to a degree such that engagement between them is rooted in joy, satisfaction, and growth.
Astha's work empowers persons with disabilities to lead a life of their dreams by using sports as a tool for development and by improving education opportunities among Indians with disabilities. More importantly, Astha's work also focuses on improving voting rights of Indian with disabilities.
Discovering challenges, creating solutions and managing delivery of these solutions are themes Astha follows while choosing projects.
Every differently abled person in India lives a life of their choice.
To empower every differently abled person to lead a life of complete participation and contribution. To transform their lives through para-sports, education and by exercising their voting rights, strengthened with the experience of “Anything is Possible.”
Power to Participate in India's Democratic Processes
At Astha, we believe in the power of every vote cast within a democracy. With improving conversations surrounding disability rights advocacy in India, we are committed to improve access to voting rights among persons with disabilities. Astha's work in this domain is committed to creating barrier-free environments where Indians with disabilities can vote for their rights. Our current projects include improving awareness; enabling a smooth voter registration and voting process while educating local authorities; conducting research to enable framing of objectives, helping design effective and practical policies and laws at the grassroots level.
EMPOWERING ABILITIES THROUGH SPORTS
Astha is committed to building an "ACADEMY OF EXCELLENCE FOR RESEARCH AND TRAINING IN SPORTS FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILTIES" in or around Bengaluru to produce world class para athletes from India. The intent of building an academy committed to sports for persons with disabilities is to coach para athletes to achieve excellence in their respective sports and eventually create innovative Sports Programs that will enable more participation from Indians across the country. Ongoing research is informing us of potential opportunities to create integrated sports programs. A common purpose through sport will educate citizens without disabilities to better under the concept of inclusion from a practical perspective. The coming together for a Common Purpose is the opportunity to disappear the differences; when a team has a Common Purpose, the team is required to know each member and operate as one; it is required that each other understand mutual challenges and individual strengths. It is in this process that the people in a team start relating to one another. This will eventually lead to a self-supporting community of individuals enjoying sport and maximizing its potential through the lessons learnt.
EMPOWERING AND ENABLING PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO PURSUE HIGHER EDUCATION
As we are engaging in the two projects improve voting and sport opportunities, we are witnessing among the community of Indians with disabilities an improved interest to pursue higher education. Astha's programs are creating awareness and resources to enable a minimum of 25 persons with disabilities to complete professional education of their choice five years. Annually scholarships are announced by Astha to enable this project. So far X amount of scholarships have been awarded to deserving candidates. If you are interested in applying or know someone who is in need of scholarships, please complete the form (hyperlink a Google Form here).
OTHER PROJECTS/ACTIVITIES
ASTHA from time to time engages in other activities / projects that are of main concern and interest to the community of differently abled people
1. We are working on making railway travel more accessible
2. We are working on including a chapter on bodily disabilities at School Curicullum to create awareness and sentivity to this aspect in the socieyt
3. Along with various NGOs we are working on creating a reliable Database of people with different abilities with an intention to facilitate better policy making , project creation and optimising the resources.
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Jugalbandi
We at Astha believe that a human being's ability to express the self is unique and has no relation to one's bodily ability, society or religion one is born into or for that matter any other human made factors. Human beings have a choice in...
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HELPLINE FOR VOTE
ASTHA OPENS HELPLINE FOR DIFFERENTLY ABLED FOR THEM TO GET TO VOTE Differently abled can now reach out to ASTHA for any assistance regarding their voters ID Card or any logistical help on the day of election. THE HELP LINE NUMBER IS 99004...
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Astha partners with Uber Bangalore
Astha partners with Uber Bangalore to support senior citizens and differently abled to go to polling both. FREE travel to and from polling booths in Bangalore for senior citizen and differently abled on 17th April. Family members can...
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JAGALBANDI 1
On 1st December 2012, Jugalbandi 1 was organised at Mount Carmel College Auditorium, Bengaluru. More than 20 differently abled artists participated in various forms of performing arts like Music, Dance, Singing and Painting. People with...
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Jugalbandi 2
Jugalbandi 2 was very unique event in which people with different abilities demonstrated their true spirits life and undounted ability to be happy and spread happiness. This event was conducted on 1st Dec 2013 at Gandhi Nehru Auditorium of National...
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Jugalbandi Sports
To mark World Disability Day for 2014 ASTHA created a unique format for Sports in which people with and without disability come together and play Sports. The details of these events are featured in an Article By Sportskeeda.com Long-term...
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Jugalbandi 3
JUGALBANDI 3 Was celebrated on 20th Dec 2014 to mark the World Disability Day of 2014. This was ASTHA's 3rd Annual Event. This event was conducted in KASSIA Auditorium, at Vijayanagar Bengaluru In the morning with the help of team from...
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2015 Jugalbandi Chess at Bengaluru
ASTHA continues to create opportunities for Differently Abled and the others to interact with each other, discover each other’s world and to understand each other from new perspectives and common interests and mutual...
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JUGALBANDI DRUM CIRCLE
1st Nov, 2015, Sunday, Bangalore: National College, Basvangudi was filled with high energy thanks to the drumming session. As with all the events that Astha has organized till date, this event too was organized in the form for a jugalbandi...
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Experience the Joy of Swimming
IN WATER, THERE IS WHOLE NEW PHYSICS An introductory 10-Day *FREE* Swimming camp for people with all types of disabilities was organized in collaboration with "One Step At A Time" and in association with "The Karnataka...
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International Debut of Vishwas
K.S Vishwas is a true demonstraton of courage and determinatoion. Its been three years that he has been working hard to make it big in the Paraswimming. At the age of 10 he lost both his hands by accidently falling on live electric wires....
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Accessible Swimming Pool
On the first look of Pooja Aquatic Center any person with physical disability will get discouraged for the fact that more than 30 steps needs to compromised to access the pool. Sunil Jain, Founder of ASTHA ventured into discovering various ways to...
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DAAN UTSAV - News Paper Collection Drive
Lets Create NEWS!!! by giving Your News Paper! I am sure you have played Sports at some time in your life. And probably you are still playing and practicing some Sport. You have experienced the power and the benefits of Sports. Do you know there...
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TABEBUIA OPEN, For Wheelchair Tennis
Introduction For the first time in India an AITA ranked wheelchair tennis tournament was conducted from Dec 2nd to Dec 4th at Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association (KSLTA) in Bangalore. The Tabebuia Open Tournament was conducted by ASTHA under...
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Marina Open 2017
Marina Open - 2017 - AITA Ranked Tournament for Wheelchair Tennis With Marina Open IWTT brought AITA ranked Wheelchair Tennis to Chennai. The matches were played at SDAT Stadium, Nungambakkam 30 men and 6 women players participated in this...
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JAGABANDI CHESS
A Day in SAPLAB, Whitefiled, Bengaluru As part of Annual Serivice day at SAPLABs . Whitefiled Bengaluru Chess Jugalbandi was organised on 12th October 2017 Intention of this event was to create awareness among the employees, about the game of...
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The First Serve
THE FIRST SERVE @ MUMBAI Indian Wheelchair Tennis Tour, division of ASTHA is created to provide platform for development of and excellence in Wheelchair tennis in India. After conducting two AITA ranked wheelchair tennis tournament it was time to...
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Igniting Dreams!
Igniting Dreams!! An education sensitization program to empower differently abled children to pursue professional careers. Speakers • Dr. Suresh...
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Survey of Polling Station
APPEAL TO ALL Every vote counts People with disabilities will surely want to vote and be part of the democratic process. To enable the Voters who are disabled - It is important to let them know that the Polling Stations are disable...
