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About Arushi

Developing Capabilities

Our mission is to build individual and organisational capabilities that enable marginalized groups in the community through programmes that focus on people with disabilities, education, livelihood, skill development, nutrition, healthcare, sanitation and creating better living conditions. We aim to create an inclusive society for people with disabilities and other marginalized sections of the society by providing them with equal opportunities to lead an independent life.

Motivated by You

Arushi grew as an idea, not as an organization. Perhaps this is the reason we are ‘Volunteer Lead’ and have a deep bond with people who kept joining us organically, often bringing their friends along, too. We learned early on that in working with the disabled, professionals can’t fill the gap. It requires people with burning passion to make a difference. Our volunteers remain very important till this day and play a pivotal role in the growth of Arushi.

Driven by Passion

Our approach to helping the disabled is to take innovative ideas and run with them. Arushi was and will remain a movement that was willing to accept new things and eager to innovate without fear. We look for heart in our people, not qualifications. Hierarchy and red-tape have to be checked in at the door. The most important part of our approach is to take the disabled out of ‘special homes’ and ‘centres’ and bring them into the mainstream.

The Story of Arushi

The idea of Arushi germinated when one of our founders, Anil Mudgal, got a call for help from a friend, who said that a visually impaired assistant professor in a Bhopal college needed readers to help him prepare for his lectures. This professor was Rohit Trivedi, our other founder, and it was this one phone call that started a friendship in 1989 that has now blossomed as Arushi. Rohit and Anil along with their friends Vipin, Sunil and DS Chauhan then began recording audio books for 5 visually impaired school children, reading to the blind and raising funds to pay for the education of these children.

Over the years, Arushi has grown to encompass work that develops capabilities in people with any disability and other groups of our society who are marginalized by the mainstream.

A RAY OF HOPE

Arushi, which means "the first ray of sun", strives to integrate people with disabilities into the mainstream of society.

In 1992, five like-minded friends came together and started working for issues concerned with Environmental Protection. The focus of their efforts shifted towards “people with visual impairment” and they started recording study material for them on audiocassettes. This was a genuinely felt need and eventually their empowerment and integration into the mainstream became the focus. This pulled a number of volunteers into the fold. Over the years, the organization has evolved and has broad based its activities to address possible issues related with disability.

 


20,000+

Beneficiaries benefited from audio books


1,000+

Students since inception


150

Students currently enrolled


30+

Special educators and therapists


1200+

Sensitisation programmes held


100+

Monuments made accessible


40,000+

Hours of books recorded


150+

Excursions organised for students


600+

Volunteers


Accolades Won

Arushi has been the recipient for many prestigious awards for our work over the years.

  • National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
    awarded by the President of India to Mahakaleshwar Temple, Ujjain, an accessibility project of Arushi, in 2017.
  • National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
    conferred by the President of India on the Bengaluru circle of Archaeological Survey of India for its disabled friendly initiatives at Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace, an accessibility project of Arushi, in 2016.
  • Madhya Pradesh Pride Award
    conferred on Arushi by the Dainik Bhaskar Group in the Social Work category, presented by renowned social worker and activist, Shri Anna Hazare in 2014.
  • National Award for the Best Role Model
    for persons with disabilities conferred by the President of India on Rohit Trivedi, co-founder of Arushi, in 2014.
  • National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities
    from the President of India for ‘Outstanding Work in the Creation of Barrier-Free Environment for the Persons with Disabilities’ awarded to Arushi in 2013.
  • We Care Film Fest Award
    for documentary films ‘Kamal’ and ‘Siddhi’ developed by Arushi in 2011.
  • Maharishi Dadhichi Award
    for work done for the welfare of people with disabilities in 2011.
  • Limca Book of Records
    recognises Arushi for organizing the ‘Longest running car rally for the visually challenged’.

Friends Of Arushi

To accomplish its aims, Arushi performs an extensive range of activities and provides services to the disabled and their families. This enormous task is made possible by the support and efforts of hundreds of volunteers, who come from varied fields, professions and age groups. These are the stories of our journey with them.





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Gulzar Ji

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Satyanand Mishra

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Vishal Bhardwaj

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Rekha Bhardwaj

Executive committee

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Vikas Pathak

President

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Shefali Tripathi Mehta

Vice - President

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Anil Mudgal

Secretary

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Sanjeev Shrivastava

Joint Secretary

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Amul Urdhwareshe

Treasurer

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Dr Anil K Sood

Member

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Arindam Banerjji

Member

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Harsh Pandey

Member

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Sonal Mattoo

Member

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Dr. Vipin Vyas

Member