SBI Life steps in to ensure continuity of education of children with special needs (CwSN), joins hands with Apang Manav Mandal, Ahmedabad. SBI Life Insurance, one of the most trusted private life insurers in India, under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, joined hands with Apang Manav Mandal, a not-for-profit organisation, to ease transportation facilities for children with special needs (CwSN).
The company has donated a 7-seater mini-van for easy and safe transportation of CwSN from their respective homes to school and vice-versa. Due to the limited abilities of the beneficiaries, using public transport like a rickshaw is often not a viable option since their safety and security is of major concern. This collaboration will aid in ensuring continuity of education of children with special needs by providing easy access to transportation facilities.
Mr. Mahesh Kumar Sharma, MD & CEO, SBI Life Insurance along with Mr. M. Anand, President-Zone1, SBI Life Insurance handed over the keys of the transport vehicle to Ms. Pragna Zaveri – Hon. Secretary, Apang Manav Mandal and Mr. Bipin Shah – Trustee & Treasurer, Apang Manav Mandal in presence of Mr. Abhijit Gulanikar, President-Business Strategy, SBI Life Insurance, Mr. Amit Kumar Saha, Regional Director-Ahmedabad, SBI Life Insurance, Ms. Sweetie Shetty, EVP & Chief Institutional Alliances (Acquisitions) & Corporate Solutions Group, SBI Life Insurance and other respected dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mahesh Kumar Sharma, MD & CEO, SBI Life Insurance said, “Education is a basic human right and plays a vital role in societal progress and that of a country. It is the most powerful tool that transforms minds, empowers people by ensuring inclusiveness and equality. For a child with special needs, especially from a low-income household, growing up in a remote village, the element of education can provide liberation and promote independence in thinking. However, due to lack of proper transportation facilities, many children with special needs drop out of schools which leads to discontinuation of education. Recognising the dire need for providing specialised transportation service for children with special needs, SBI Life Insurance joined hands with Apang Manav Mandal to make such transportation facilities easily available to CwSN, thereby ensuring continuity of education of CwSN. He further added, “As a part of our CSR initiative, SBI Life has been supporting a wide range of education initiatives in various thrust areas which include equal learning opportunities for children with special needs across multiple states. We hope that our endeavour strengthens our focus towards promoting the nation’s common goal of ‘equal education for all’ including those with special needs.”
Apang Manav Mandal runs a special residential school with the same name for children with special needs (CwSN) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. The organization works towards empowering children with special needs (CwSN) belonging to low-income families. Since its inception, the NGO has been providing with education, skills training and a wide range of rehabilitation services like therapy, treatment, etc. for its beneficiaries. Additionally, it also offers transportation facilities to the day-scholars residing around Vadaj, Ranip, Shahpur, Velajpur localities of Ahmedabad district to the school and back to their respective homes
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