Venue: MRC Centre, Chennai

Jury:
Justice J.S. Verma - Former Chief Justice of India
Dr. Mohini Giri - Chairperson, Guild of Service
Ms. Jaya Bachchan – Actor and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha)
Mr. Nagesh Kukunoor - Film Maker
Mr. Anindya Bhattacharyya - Computer Technologist,
Helen Keller National Center, New York

Guests of Honor:
Justice A.P. Shah - Chief Justice of Tamil Nadu
Mr. M. M. Murugappan – Director, Murugappa Group
Ms. Asin – Actor

The Awardees

CavinKare ABILITY Award for Eminence:

Uma Shankar Pandey (Banda, Uttar Pradesh) His educated family taunted him for his disability, an uncle asked him to beg in trains for a living. Uma Shankar ran away from his village to stay with relatives outside. He came back three years later, supported by his crutches and his conviction, to start a movement for the rights of children with disabilities. He started Vikalang Aavasya Vidyalaya, a residential school for the disabled and deprived children with a curriculum that emphasised self-reliance. In less than 10 years accepting donations only in kind, he has been able to help over 1000 people.

CavinKare ABILITY Award for Mastery:

Rinku Jee Bhat (Dumana, Jammu) At the age of four, electrocution and the resultant amputation took away his arms, but the tragedy did not touch Rinku’s spirit. He completed school and took it upon himself to support his poverty-ridden, migrant family. Ironically he trained himself to be an electrician (the very reason for his disability). Now he is totally self-sufficient with his high proficiency in performing intricate electrical jobs with his toes.

Navin Gulia (Gurgaon, Haryana) An accident while training for the army cost him the use of his limbs, but Navin simply shifted his battleground to rehabilitation from 100% disability. This adventurer, scuba diver, hang glider, and marathon driver has merited a mention in the Limca Book of Records for driving non-stop in the Himalayas. He drives all over the country giving motivational talks, volunteers with the War Wounded Foundation and has started AADA, a Foundation to help street children in Delhi.