PRODUCTION UNIT for specially abled to come up in Ludhiana

Ludhiana, January 19, 2013:The first of its kind production unit which would provide employment exclusively to the visually impaired and physically challenged population of the city is going to come up at New Kichlu Nagar, Hambhra Road, Ludhiana.

The unit being named as ‘Antardrishti Kendra’ is an initiative of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan, a socio-spiritual organisation, founded and headed by Ashutosh Maharaj.

The foundation stone of the project will be laid tomorrow.

Addressing the media persons here today while providing insight into the matter, Sadhvi Pragya Bharti, a disciple of Ashutosh Maharaj said, “Antardrishti is already an established and successfully running project of DJJS in many parts of the country including Delhi, where we have set up similar factories, in which people from this section of population, are given vocational training to produce candles, biscuits and herbal soaps. After receiving an organised training into the process, they are employed in departments ranging from production to packaging. Hundreds of people from this section of society are being benefitted by such production units.”

The action module of Antardrishti project suggests that the products, hence made, are put on sale at shoppers’ hub like Gandhi Mela and Dilli Haat. Also the products are promoted and put on sale at outlets provided by different corporate houses, across the country, who come in support of this section of the population. The earnings go to the welfare fund of the specially abled employees of the unit. On the basis of the quality of these products, the project has also won many awards and accolades, including Best Stall award at Delhi’s Gandhi Mela.

“Alongwith this, in order to provide an impetus to their recreational energyand engage them in skill development programmes, an ‘Antardrishti’ band of singers and musicians has been formed, who receive regular training from learned Indian classical vocalists and instrumentalists. This band performs unbelievable motivational numbers, listening to which one may not believe they cannot even see their instruments. You will witness this tomorrow during the event,” said Ravinder Arora, Project Director, Antardrishti.

After accomplishing several decades of success and recognition in the national capitaland other parts of the country, the project is now opening its branch in Ludhiana city to benefit the visually impaired and physically impaired people, who have no support to lead their life other than being dependant on others.

“This launch will witness the participation of visually and physically handicapped people who were gripped in the life of begging and captivated in the negativity; they were part of street rackets. But after coming in touch with the Andardrishti programme, their lives witnessed such positive change that now they are not only supporting their family with a dignified living but are moving ahead with the objective of social welfare”, said Kamal Chaitley, Social Activist, Antardrishti and a disciple of Ashutosh .