New Delhi, November 8, 2023: ATPAR’s virtual incubation programme, Sambhav 2.0, concluded with a convocation for 80 NEDAR Network Entrepreneurs With Disabilities at the BIMTECH campus. This initiative provided financial support and mentorship to Persons with Disabilities (PwD). The convocation ceremony was presided over by the Chief Guest Rajesh Aggrawal, IAS Secretary, DEPwD MSJE, in recognition of the completion of a virtual incubator programme established by the AIC BIMTECH and Network of Entrepreneurs With Disabilities for Assistance and Rehabilitation (NEDAR) Foundation.
Rajesh Aggarwal underscored the necessity for a societal paradigm shift to enable persons with disabilities to pursue self-employment and entrepreneurship. Following the accounts of several participants regarding the most significant obstacles they encountered, Aggarwal expressed his intention to look for ways in which certain gaps in the funding process could be addressed and further advocated for increased social funding through digital processes to assist individuals with disabilities. He appreciated the virtual process of the incubation program of NEDAR Foundation and the returnable interest-free grant process supported by Partners–Collective Good Foundation-Samhita Social Ventures and USAID which was directly administered in a paperless mode making it easy for the entrepreneurs to get comprehensive resources and strategic guidance.
Dr. H. Chaturvedi, Director, BIMTECH highlighted that their mission is to promote and support entrepreneurs with disabilities across the country. Furthermore, he emphasised how every micro business unit has a significant potential for self-reliance while simultaneously giving back to society.
Thilakam Rajendran & KV Rajendran, Director of the NEDAR Foundation, emphasised that the ecosystem still has some voids, such as street vendors lacking licences and micro and nano enterprises lacking accessible incubator support, among others. They also shared their story on how they were able to bringparticipants together and develop the NEDAR Entrepreneurs Business Network – currently having over 225 members from across 18 States.
The programme was built on a mentorship cohort that ran for 40 hours prior to convocation. AIC-BIMTECH as an execution partner to ATPAR, touched upon various entrepreneurial themes during the training. The participants run various micro-businesses such as manufacturing of corner shelves, shoe soles, carry bags etc. and also provided services like tiffin services, tailoring shops, mobile repair shops, fast food stalls, tea and snacks stalls, fruit sellers, etc. The SAMBHAV program guided the entrepreneurs in areas including business expertise, compliance issues, money management, marketing, and knowledge of government programmes such as MSME and UDYAM registration and Mudra Loans. The instructions were given in local language.
