Gurugram, February 16, 2026: The Shikhar Dhawan Foundation (SDF), supported by global container shipping company Maersk, has enabled over ₹33 lakh in livelihood earnings within the first year of its ‘Livelihood On Wheels’ (LOW) initiative. The programme is designed to create sustainable income opportunities for specially-abled individuals across North India.
Implemented as part of the philanthropic arm of Shikhar Dhawan’s Da One Group, the initiative focuses on providing dignified, tech-enabled delivery jobs to persons with disabilities. Beneficiaries are linked to employment through Zomato’s Project ZEAL, which serves as the structured delivery partner under the programme.
All selected participants are onboarded under Project ZEAL and receive operational training, continuous support and employment access, enabling them to earn independently. The programme has so far supported 30 beneficiaries and their families, helping them achieve long-term financial stability.
Guided by the vision of Arjuna Awardee and India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, the initiative seeks to address mobility as a key barrier to workforce participation among persons with disabilities. LOW primarily supports individuals with severe mobility impairments, who are often excluded from mainstream employment.
Anshita Gupta, CEO, Da One Group, said, “With the support of Maersk, we are pleased to partner with Zomato’s Project ZEAL to add yet another game-changing initiative under our Livelihood On Wheels programme. We recognise that sustainable initiatives require solutions that work on ground. In conjunction with our partners, we have succeeded in bringing together adaptive technology, employment linkages and long-term support to create a model that is both impactful and scalable.”
Sophie Shine, COO, Da One Group, added, “At the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation, we believe that creating livelihood for individuals is the strongest form of empowerment. Livelihood On Wheels is about eliminating the fundamental barrier of mobility and replacing it with opportunity. By combining innovation, partnerships and purpose, we are enabling specially-abled individuals to build independent and dignified lives.”
At the core of the initiative is an adaptive mobility solution developed by NeoMotion in collaboration with IIT Chennai. Following detailed clinical assessments, beneficiaries are provided customised hybrid EV wheelchair-bike solutions—Neofly and Neobolt—designed to combine assistive technology with engineering innovation.
India is estimated to have over 26 million persons living with disabilities, with workforce participation remaining below 36 percent. Through Livelihood On Wheels, the Shikhar Dhawan Foundation aims to create scalable livelihood pathways that promote financial independence, inclusion and dignity for persons with disabilities.