WELFARE OF PWDS (DIVYANGJAN)

Program / Initiative	Glimpse of Activity	Description / Event Name
SNAC Tripura under the National Trust		Registration of Beneficiaries under National Trust of SNAC Tripura For NIRAMAYA Health Insurance
GarvSe – Economic Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Through Developing Sustainable Ecosystem (EnAble India)		EnAble India’s Margdarshi Training Program at Gomati District
Shantineer – Half Way Home (HWH)		Women inmates of Shantineer during Durga Puja Parikrama 2025
Workshop on Orientation and Mobility Programme for Persons with Visual Impairment		Practicing mobility by using white cane
“AmaderVaani” – A Digital Platform for Persons with Disabilities		An event on ‘Amader Vaani’- a digital platform for PWDs

Voluntary Health Association of Tripura is a registered organisation under the National Trust – a statutory body of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India (Under section 12 (4) of the Act). VHAT functioning as the State Nodal Agency Centre (SNAC) under the National Trust since 2021, continued its committed efforts to strengthen access to disability welfare services across Tripura through a combination of service facilitation, institutional engagement, and community outreach for welfare of the person with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities in this state. VHAT is the member of Local Level Committee (LLC) in three districts of Tripura viz. South, North and Unokoti District.

The activities of the Voluntary Health Association of Tripura throughout 2025-26 demonstrated its commitment to social inclusion and health security for persons with disabilities (PwDs). As the State Nodal Agency Centre (SNAC) under the National Trust, VHAT has effectively bridged the gap between policy and practices. As per National Trust Norms, VHAT implemented the following activities in the FY 2025-26:

Key Service Delivery & Institutional Support:

• Niramaya Health Insurance: Totally 207 beneficiaries were supported through new enrollments and renewals. This scheme is vital for covering outpatient care, hospitalization, and various therapies for individuals with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Intellectual Disabilities, and Multiple Disabilities.
• Legal Guardianship: Through active participation in Local Level Committees (LLCs), VHAT facilitated the issuance of 04 Legal Guardianship Certificates in North, South, and Unakoti districts, providing a structured legal safety net for those in need.
• Network Expansion: The organization continuously engaged with local entities to encourage the registration of new Registered Organizations (ROs) under the National Trust, broadening the support infrastructure across the state.

The "Badhte Kadam" Initiative & Inclusion Events:

The "Badhte Kadam" initiative served as the primary vehicle for statewide awareness and community integration.

Sports & Public Engagement:

VHAT leveraged high-profile public platforms to amplify its message of health security. At the Khelo Tripura Para Games 2025 (Dec 15–16), inaugurated by Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, VHAT maintained a dedicated stall. The public distribution of Niramaya cards during this event served as a powerful testimonial to the tangible benefits of these welfare schemes. By integrating "last-mile" service delivery at DDRC camps with large-scale cultural and sports advocacy, VHAT has established a multifaceted model for disability rehabilitation in Tripura.

Reporting by local Print Media

NIRAMAYA Health Card Distribution to the Beneficiaries at Hapania International Fair Ground

EnAble India is a leading Indian non-profit organization founded in 1999 with a concrete mindset of empowering Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) through economic independence and social integration. The organization’s primary goal is to shift the narrative from "sympathy" to "competence." They believe that with the right skills and environment, individuals with disabilities can be highly productive contributors to the workforce. VHAT signed the partnership agreement with EnAble India on 1st December 2025.

Key Areas of Impact:

Enable India operates through several strategic pillars:

• Skill Development: Provide specialized training for various PwDs, covering technical skills, employability, and life skills.
• Employment Placement: Acting as bridge between job seekers and corporate partners.
• Workplace Sensitization: Beyond hiring, EnAble India works with companies to create inclusive cultures, providing workshops on how to interact with and manage employees with disabilities.
• Assistive Technology: Promote and develop affordable technological solutions (like screen readers or modified keyboards) that helps PwDs to perform tasks efficiently.

Why it Matters: Main focus is on the ecosystem, collaboration with government, NGOs & private sector to create a scalable model for disability inclusion across India.

• Partnership with VHAT: This aimed to enhance economic independence and social inclusion of PwDs through skill development and entrepreneurship opportunities. It means; by combining EnAble India’s expertise in disability livelihoods with VHAT’s extensive grassroots network, the project aimed to bridge the gap between PwDs and mainstream economic opportunities through a strong collaborative effort between VHAT, EnAble India, and training institutions, aiming to create sustainable livelihood opportunities for PWDs.
• The Roadmap: As part of this project, collaboration was established with Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI) and Rural Development and Self Employment Training Institute (RUDSETI), which are key institutions providing Entrepreneurship Development Programme (EDP) and vocational training.
• Project Implementation: To ensure effective implementation, three EnAble Committees were formed in different blocks. These committees play a vital role in identifying eligible beneficiaries, facilitating training linkages, and monitoring progress.
• Margdarshi Events: As a vital part of this initiative, several Margdarshi (a short-term training course offered through EnAble India initiative) Programmes were successfully conducted at:
  • Dukli RD Block, West Tripura District
  • Kalyanpur RD Block, Khowai District
  • Matabari RD Block, Gomati District
  focused on mobilization, counselling, and selection of suitable candidates for skill development and entrepreneurship training.

Project Outreach: Through Margdarshi a total of 68 PwDs were identified and selected for EDP and various vocational training courses.

The Second Margdarshi program was held on 11th March, 2026 at Kalyanpur RD Block, Khowai district, addressed by Mr. Lahorii Francis, Regional Manager, EnAble India, Mr. Himendu Bikash Paul, BDO - Kalyanpur Block and Mr. Jyotirmoy Majumder, Associate Director, Voluntary Health Association of Tripura.

The Third Margdarshi program was held on 23rd March 2026 at Udaipur, Matabari RD Block, Gomati district, witnessed the presence of Mr. Sanjit Rupini, District Inspector of Social Education (DISE), Gomati District, Mr. Haribhushan Das, Secretary, Pratibandhi Kalyan Samity, Mr. Jayatirmoy Majumder, Associate Director VHAT and Mr. Gouranga Sukladas, Dy. Director. School Education, Gomati District along with representative from RSETI, Gomati District. Overall, the programme was highly informative and impact-full as 68 PwDs actively participated in this programme and out of them 37 PwDs are agree to take the EDP and other Vocational Training.

First Margdarshi Program at Bikramnagar Panchayat Hall, Dukli Block, West Tripura

Second Margdarshi program on 11th March, 2026 at Kallyanpur RD Block, Khowai district

Third Margdarshi program on 23rd March 2026 at District Education Officer, Udaipur, Matabari RD Block, Gomati district

With support from Social Welfare & Social Education Department under Government of Tripura, VHAT has been running this special home since October 2023, for the welfare & rehabilitation of persons living with mental illness (Schizophrenia). The home provides special care for those who have been cured, do not need further hospitalization, who are homeless & not accepted by their families or guardians. They are in need of shelter, care and protection. To mitigate the objective hereon, the Govt. of Tripura has established ‘SHANTINEER’ located at Narsingarh, West Tripura. The inmates are sent by the Modern Psychiatric Hospital (MPH) Agartala. Capacity of the Home: 25 males & 25 female inmates.

Services provided to the inmates:

• Food: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner as per the diet chart approved by MPH.
• All necessary clothes & regular dresses were given.
• Regular Health Check-up and counselling were done for all the inmates by the Doctors of MPH.
• Two full-time Nurses were taking care of their hygiene, giving them medicines & looking after whether they are taking food properly. The MPH provided the list of medicines being administered to the inmates during handing over of the inmates from MPH to the SHANTINEER- Half Way Home.
• In case of relapse of symptoms, immediately they were shifted to MPH until their symptoms were subsided.
• Engaging the inmates in activities: Arranged training of female inmates for making paper bags, Door Mat making, Cloth’s Toy making and Woollen product making training. Male inmates were managing the kitchen garden.
• Repatriation/Integration into family: On a regular basis, staff did home visits, discussed with family members about taking them back. Also communicated with local village leaders, panchayat members and religious leaders. Reintegrated five female inmates with their families so far.
• The MPH was the inspecting authority for the SHANTINEER-Half Way Home.
• Rehabilitation: Assisting individuals in their recovery journey and facilitating their reintegration into society.
• Support Services: Providing counselling, medical care, and daily living assistance to residents.
• Community Integration: Encouraging social interactions and activities to promote mental well-being.

Milestones Achieved:

• No of inmates staying in March 2026: 47 (Male-23, Female-24)
• No of inmates reintegrated to their family: 17 (Female-14, Male-03)
• No. of inmates under Vocational Training: 16 (Doormat), 14 (Paper-Bag) and 12 (Cloths toy and Woollen materials making)
• Surgical operation done: 2 (Gallbladder Stones & Tumour)

Durgapuja Parikrama by male inmates of HWH

Regular Health Check up

Holi Utsav in Half Way Home

An Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Training for persons with visual impairment was successfully organized by VHAT in collaboration with Institute for Empowerment of Visually Impairment. The training was conducted at the Training Hall of IEPVD, Narsingarh, West Tripura District on 12-02-2026.

Dignitaries – Facilitators – Participants:

• Dignitaries: Ms. Reshmi Sarkar, Principal IEPVD Girls, Mr. Sambhu Debnath, Principal IEPVD Boys and all teachers of the institution. Mr. Jyotirmoy Majumder, Associate Director VHAT, welcomed the participants and emphasized the importance of orientation and mobility skills in ensuring independence, confidence, and social inclusion of persons with visual impairment.
• Facilitator: Ms. Aparna Saha, Mobility Instructor from District Disability Rehabilitation Centre, West Tripura conducted the training sessions both theoretical and practical.
• Participants: 60 visually challenged students of IEPVD (Blind Schools).

Session Overview:

Theoretical session covered concepts of orientation, spatial awareness, sensory development, use of residual vision, and safety techniques for independent movement. Ms. Aparna Saha also highlighted the importance of proper posture, protective techniques, and environmental understanding for safe mobility.

During the practical session, hands-on demonstrations were conducted on:

• Proper use of the white cane
• Indoor and outdoor mobility techniques
• Human guide techniques
• Road crossing and obstacle detection
• Staircase navigation and surface identification
• Techniques to climb the ground floor to 1st and 2nd floor

Training Reach & Outcome:

During the training 60 visually challenged students actively engaged in the theoretical class and practical exercises under the guidance and supervision of the trainer. The interactive approach of the session enhanced participants' confidence and helped them understand real-life mobility challenges and solutions. Equipping them with essential skills for independent living, the authority of IEPVD expressed gratitude to the organizers, staff of VHAT and resource person.

Practicing mobility by using white cane

“AmaderVaani”, a digital platform for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) operated by EnAble India. On 24th October 2025, in collaboration with EnAble India, VHAT organized one awareness event in the Conference Hall, DDRC, West Tripura District.

The objective was to introduce and promote the digital platform Amader Vaani among persons with disabilities, their organizations, and other relevant stakeholders. The welcome address was delivered by Dr. Sreelekha Ray, President of Voluntary Health Association of Tripura. She discussed various gaps in formations of schemes and facilities which were allocated for the welfare of PWDs.

During the session, Mr. Goru Prasad (Director) and Ms. Kadam Khatun (Executive) from EnAble India demonstrated the functionalities of Amader Vaani through practical examples and interactive discussions. Participants actively engaged in the session, sharing their experiences and expressing enthusiasm about using the platform for promoting digital inclusion and accessibility.

The platform enables users to access information related to education, employment, livelihood opportunities, and social welfare schemes in an accessible format. Representatives from Government, Non-Government Organizations working with persons with disabilities, and Individual PWDs participated in the event. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Mr. Fransis of EnAble India and Mr. Jyotirmoy Majumder of VHAT.

Sessions on Amader Vaani