CHENNAI: Observed World Disabled Day on December 22, 2017 by facilitating their branch heads and divisional managers for reaching out to maximum disabled persons and Transgender.
Equitas has given microfinance loans to 20457 disabled women and out of which 3748 are
visually impaired women. These disabled women have overcome their disability by setting up their own shops or have used this loan amount for buying stocks for their enterprises.
Iyyammal a visually impaired person, currently pursuing her doctorate at Presidency College, Chennai narrated how the skill training for Chudithar cutting, provided by Equitas Gyan Kendra has bestowed self confidence. Similarly there were few other success stories narrated by persons who have overcome their disabilities and are successful
About 11 disabled women who have taken microfinance loan from Equitas & repaid promptly took part in the function. Some of them narrated how Equitas helped them through micro loan as well as skill training to increase their income and build their confidence. Venkatesan who has taken SME loan of 2 Lakhs from Equitas has successfully set up his petty shop.
John Alex, Program Director, Equitas Development Initiatives Trust welcomed the
gathering. While Dr C.K. Gariyali, IAS Retired gave the key note address, Nirmal, Trustee, Founder, Exnora, delivered special address.
Siddharth Jayakumar In his special address stressed the need”… to be confident and simply being themselves and not to change one’s self for the sake of others”.
P.N.Vasudevan in his special address reiterated the empathetic approach needed in all our
interactions with differently abled persons. Equitas Development Initiative Trust (EDIT) addresses a larger spectrum of requirements of low income families including 8 schools for their children and skill development training classes to the low income families. Equitas Group is committed to contribute 5% of its annual profits to this Trust.
As a mark of its commitment to the economically weaker sections of the society, Equitas
conducts home base skill training through its Equitas Gyan Kendra to benefit persons with
disabilities. The mission statement of Equitas is to improve quality of life.
