ACHARYA PATHASHALA EVENING COLLEGE OF ARTS AND COMMERCE

N.R COLONY, BANGALORE-560019

A PROJECT REPORT ON
“NAME OF THE ORGANISATION
(NGO)”

VARSHITHA M
C1910457
III year 5th SEM

CHANDRAKALA. V Commerce,

Asst.Prof.

Bengaluru City University

Letter of Transmittal

Date: 01/02/2022

Name of the Mentor: Asst.Prof CHANDRAKALA. V

Acharya Pataskala Evening College of Arts and
Commerce

Subject: Submission of the Community Service report on “SAMARTHANAM

TRUST” Dear Sir/ Madam,

This is to inform you that I have completed the project report titled
“SAMARTHANAM TRUST” .which has been prepared as a requirement for
the completion of the B.Com Program of Acharya Pathasala Evening College
of Arts and Commerce.

While working on the report, I have tried to follow each and every guideline that you
had advised.
It has been a very enlightening experience and I have thoroughly enjoyed my
community service at “SAMARTHANAM TRUST”

Thank you for your kind cooperation and support.

Sincerely, VARSHITHA M
IIIRD YEAR 5TH SEM
 ACKNOWLEDGEM
ENT

I am extremely thankful to our beloved principal Dr. DM. Mukunda Naik,

Principal of Acharya Pathasala Evening College of Arts and Commerce for providing
me the opportunity to conduct this project. I also express my heart full gratitude to
HOD of Commerce, Asst.Prof. Deekshith Yogesh.

I also express my deep appreciation to my guide Asst.Prof CHANDRAKALA V

guidance and valuable suggestions. I am also grateful to all lectures of the
Commerce department for rendering their help of immense encouragement.

Place: Bangalore
Date: 01/02/2022
Varshitha M
Final year B.com 5th semester
Learning outcome from Community Service
 Dr. Mahantesh G K

Present Founder Chairman – Samarthanam

International

A three-time National Award recipient who is working on the empowerment of the

disabled and making India inclusive
“I believe in building a society where people with disabilities are potential tax-
payers but not dole recipients”

On the way to Vision 2030, Mahantesh looks forward to touching the lives of 10,
00,000 people with disabilities

Disability rights advocate, motivational speaker, an avid traveler, technology

follower, blind cricket player, English literature enthusiast,
Notable academician, role model to millions of people and a true visionary
 Learning outcome from Community Service

. Greater understanding of community

. Ability to identify community needs

. Sustained interest for community involvement/ccontributions.

. Recognize that they do make a difference/have something to offer

. Recognize problems and gaps in resources and envision solutions for the future

. Develop leadership and teamwork skills needed for effective community

engagement

. Develop greater flexibility and adaptability in working with community issues

 INTRODUCTION

ABOUT COMMUNITY

SERVICE

Samarthanam Trust is a pioneer in empowering people with disabilities and the

underprivileged on various socio-economic-cultural fronts.

The history of Samarthanam had begun in 1997 when two visually impaired
individuals with a vision to change the dynamics for people with disabilities in
India had come together to lay the foundation for this organization.

Since 1997, the organization’s objective and drive started gathering support,
leading to the establishment of Schools, Livelihood Resource Centers,
Rehabilitation Centers, Social Enterprises and a Sports Association for the
visually impaired, expanding its services to various geographies. More than two
decades down the road, Samarthanam stands to be the umbrella organization
standing by thousands of people with disabilities, underserved and women in
distress.

Samarthanam advocates inclusion, equal opportunities, holistic development of the d is

abled and economically underserved
OBJECTIVES

• To improve the overall quality of life of the rural people weaker section of
the society, particularly disabled, women , children.
• To undertake and participate in programs pertaining to health,
education, employment and rehabilitation and disabled.
• To provide the education for the children who are disabled.
• To establish promote support and develop voluntary organization
engaged in social upliftment of people with disabilities.
• To cater to people with disabilities, including visually impaired
and undeserved.
• Education was conceived to be the basic rights of every
individual irrespective of status and disability.
• Samarthanam promotes building of an inclusive society which provides
equal opportunities, without discrimination.
• Sports form an integral part of samarthanams and hosting unique
blind cricket tournaments
• They have strived for the development and promotion of visually impaired.
 NEED FOR THE PROJECT REPORT

Community service helps connect to the community. Giving back and assisting
others is the basis of volunteering or community service. The importance of
community service lies in the fact that it connects us to the community by
Improving it and making it a Better place for all of us to live in .

HOW DOES COMMUNITY SERVICE HELPS STUDENTS?

Volunteering helps build a safer, stronger, community, increase the social

network between communities and neighborhood.

Volunteering promotes people to be more active in civic engagement and concerned of

citizenship.

It helps pursuing personal knowledge, engaging with new experiences and developing
communication abilities.

• It helps to increase self-esteem.

• Gain more empathy.
• Become a stronger college applicant.
• Build long term generosity.
• Earn better grades.
 METHDOLOGY

• This institution conducts annual events like walkathon, in Bangalore .where they
get a massive support from volunteer hailing from diverse sectors.

• Blind cricket tournaments, is a very special and unique event which is

conducted by them.

• Volunteering allows us to tutor the students in languages, arts, culture,

sports, communication and computer training.

• Soft skills and spoken English training.

• Scribe support to visually impaired students.

• Counselling

• Converting textbooks into accessable formats.

• Assistance with venues for conducting sports events.

• Hosting cultural performances in India and abroad.

ORGANIZATION PROFILE

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled, founded in 1997, is a non-profit

organization working towards facilitating opportunities to enable persons with
disabilities and the underserved to keep pace with the rest of the society by
providing quality education, accommodation, nutritious food, vocational training
and placement based rehabilitation. It is based in Bangalore, India with centers
across India and abroad. The organization is affiliated to the World Blind
Union and received Special UN Consultative Status in 2015.
 History

Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled was established in the year 1997 by
Mahantesh G Kivadasannavar along with his schoolmate and childhood friend,
Late. Nagesh SP. The founders, being visually impaired and having witnessed
various challenges, have together conceptualized Samarthanam, an organization
which would cater to people with disabilities, including visually impaired and
underprivileged. Education was conceived to be the basic right of every
individual, irrespective of status and disability. And hence they initiated on the
development of various programmes at primary, secondary and higher
education levels and also various other initiatives solely dedicated for visually
impaired and underserved. As the organization’s objective and drive started
gathering support, Samarthanam’s areas of service also widened. The
organization moved onto establishing Livelihood Resource Centres,
Rehabilitation Centres, Social Enterprises and a Sports Association for the
visually impaired. Samarthanam expanded and fortified to be recognized as an
umbrella organization, offering services to hundreds of people with disabilities,
underserved and women in distress. Samarthanam promotes building of an
inclusive society which provides equal opportunities, without discrimination, for
the development of the visually impaired, disabled and economically
underserved.

Awards -

• Samarthanam was awarded the Governor’s award for Excellence from the
government of Karnataka, in 2002
• Founder Managing Trustee Mr. Mahantesh received the National Award for
Child Welfare 2009 from the President of India
• Mr. Mahantesh was conferred with the Aryabhatta International Award, in 2009
• Mr. Mahantesh was honored with the NDTV Spirit of Sport Award for 2011,
in the Against the Odds - Lifetime Achievement category .
NATURE OF SERVICE

Education and nutrition

Samarthanam runs integrated primary and secondary schools and supports

visually impaired students pursuing higher education. Samarthanam uses
technology to nullify disability. A barrier-free, accessible residential school is
under construction. As part of 'Vidyaprasad', Samarthanam provides mid-day
 Meals to children in government schools.

Sports

Samarthanam athletes took home seven medals at the 17th National Sports
Meet for the Blind (2010) held at Chandigarh. Samarthanam's medal tally
included three golds and Subramani broke the national record in shot put.
Samarthanam promotes chess for the blind. The FIDE rating National Open
Chess Tournament for the Blind 2012 was organized by Samarthanam, in
association with All India Chess Federation for the Blind.
The previous governing body handed over the responsibility of organizing
cricket for the blind in India to Samarthanam. Samarthanam funded the
Indian team's tour of England where the Indian team defeated England in a
four-match one-day series. The Indian team, in collaboration with
Samarthanam, also travelled to Pakistan to play the Indo-Pak series. Cricket
Association for the Blind in India (CABI) is Samarthanam's sports initiative.
The T–20 World Cup Cricket for the Blind is to be held in Bangalore in
December 2012 Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan,
South Africa, West Indies, Sri Lanka and Nepal will be taking part, and
Saurav Ganguly is the Brand Ambassador for the event.
 Other areas of work

• Culture -

Culture'Sunadha' is Samarthanam's troupe comprising visually impaired

dancers. 'Sunadha' has performed across India, the U.S. and U.K.

• Environment -
 'Parisara', Samarthanam's environmental initiative, provides end-to-end waste
management solutions for corporate organizations and residential complexes.
Samarthanam Parisara won the People's Green Award at the TCS World 10K
Bangalore 2012, winning the grand prize of Rs. 75,000.

SAMARTHANAM PARISARA COLLOBARATION

EXPERIENCE

We visited samarthanam a few days back as we wanted to be a volunteer over

there but couldn’t be one. Due to current pandemic situation of covid-19, we
were not allowed give service for their safety measures. But we got permission
to collect information about their trust. I felt especially abled children are very
much talented. Couldn’t believe there are so many people like them out here
in this world. If we guide them and give them love as they deserve it, there is
nothing that can stop them. By looking at their talented faces and their
activities, I was surprised. Can’t believe how good they were either by their
creativeness of their culture. I am glad to have made this project and know
more about them and also felt seeing life through one of the different
perspectives. I will be helping and
visiting this kind of trusts/organization/institutions in future also. I am glad I did
this.

CONCLUSION

I would like to say we could have learnt more if we did go there. Those talented
children achieved a lot. They showed that they are no less than us.
Samarthanam had also conducted cricket for visually impaired and also the few
students got selected to international wall climbing for visually impaired people
in Russia in this year 2021 and walkathon, cultural programs and many more
activities . They participated well and good than anyone in everything. They
inspires us a lot. World got encourage these kind of people and treat, give more
love and concern. They thought their disabilities as their strength. So they should
be called ‘SPECIALLY ABLED ONES’.