Swayamkrushi to celebrate 35th anniversary with Venkaiah Naidu as chief guest

Hyderabad: Swayamkrushi, a non-profit organisation, is holding its coral jubilee celebrations (35th anniversary) in the new campus premises at Jawahar Nagar, Secunderabad, on Monday.
Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu who will participate as the chief guest will deliver an address in the virtual mode. Malkajgiri MP Etela Rajender, former media advisor to AP government, Devulapalli Amar and retired IPS VV Lakshminarayana will also take part.

Swayamkrushi has done pioneering work in the country to empower persons with intellectual disabilities with personalized educational programs, vocational skill development training, and independent living skills through programs designed to support individuals who are in different stages of development, a press release said.

Established in 1991 by Manjulaa Kalyaan, considered a doyenne in the field in the country, Swayamkrushi is rooted in the philosophy of providing equal learning and personal growth opportunities to persons with special needs.

Manjulaa, besides helping people with intellectual disabilities, is also involved in the empowerment of women as is evident from their numbers working not only in the organisation but also elsewhere, it said.

Over the years, Swayamkrushi has been in a pioneering position in rehabilitating and integrating adults with intellectual disabilities and spearheading India’s Group Homes concept and the movement for inclusion across Telangana and beyond.

The founder-director received several awards including the National Award for Welfare of People with Disabilities by former President late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, for her work, particularly in promoting the Group Homes concept in 1991, much ahead of it being ratified by the Government of India in 2007. She was also conferred with the National Award for Best Individual Professional in 2018.