SPJIMR also strives to act as a medium to create a network between NGOs and the corporate for sustained and enhanced impact of development processes on society. It is a critical part of contemporary business because without an understanding of this interdependency, neither business nor the society in which it operates can thrive. In fact, this understanding is becoming increasingly more essential as corporations grow in size and influence, and public pressure intensifies for corporations to address pressing social and environmental concerns.

This year the focus was on the success stories in the work done for the disabled sector by various organizations. The theme for Social Impact Awards 2007 was “Livelihood for the Differently Abled”. The award ceremony was attended by various dignitaries from the social and corporate sector like Mrs Rufina Fernandes, CEO of the NASSCOM Foundation, Col S R Yeri, CEO of the Queen Marys Technical Institute for the Disabled Personnel of the armed forces and Mr Ketan Kotari, Asst Director of the National Association of the Blind.

The theme of this years social impact award was livelihood for the differently abled. As part of the process entries were invited from various NGOs and individuals who have been providing livelihood opportunities to the differently abled people. The response was overwhelming and to see the large quantum of work done by these organizations in the disability sector was very humbling . It was difficult to select only few organizations amongst them, as all of their work was very commendable. This year their were three winners instead of one due to the excellent work done by all the three. The criteria put forth by the jury in selection of the award winners is Adversity Quotient, Livelihood/Employment opportunities, Degree of compassion, Sustained performance, Institutionalization, Content.

The three winners and their brief introduction is as follows:

Helpers of the handicapped
This is an organisation set up in Kolhapur working for total rehabilitation of persons with disabilities for more than 22 years. They provide free medical aid, hostel facilities and school education to boys and girls and vocational training and employment to adult school drop outs and illiterate physically handicapped men and women. Its headed by two dynamic ladies. Their President, Naseema M Hurzuk is a wheel chair bound paraplegic for last 40 years. Their Vice President Mrs Rajani Deshpande is polio afflicted using crutches. Miss NASEEMA hurzuk is the recepient of outlook speakout award 2005 from mrs sonia Gandhi..FICCI Award 2005 from dr manmohan singh. She has also written her autobiography named NASEEMA…Together with like minded people they have undertook a crusade for rehab of persons with disabilities. They provide free medical aid, hostel facilities and school education to boys and girls and vocational training and employment to adult school drop outs and illiterate physically handicapped men and women.

Shri Pragna Chakshu Mahila Seva Kunj
Shri Pragna Chakshu Mahila Seva Kunj is an NGO devoted to the upliftment of blind girls. The organisation is committed to the welfare survival, protection, participation, development and empowerment of under privileged poor girls with impaired vision. This institute was started by Mrs Muktaben pankajbhai dagli…who is the executive director of the organisation. It has been her resolution that she will not allow any visually impaired girl who comes in contact with her to beg and will educate them which has been the founding vision of the organisation. They have also devoted to help disabled boys and girls by training them and helping them become self employed. She has helped change the lives around 1100 students till now.

SPJ Sadhana School for the mentally handicapped
SPJ SADHANA School for the mentally challenged. The S. P. J. Sadhana School for the mentally challenged is an NGO that has been pushing back frontiers for the past 33 years, creating awareness and seeking to mainstream the Mentally Challenged into industry. Over the last 33 years SPJ Sadhana School has been dedicated to this cause. They have arranged placement for 1036 students over the past 15 years and have been more than successful in inclusion of mentally challenged individuals in the mainstream society. They have had a success ratio of 93% in moulding children and placing them in mainstream.