Aarth-Astha

Aarth-Astha’s initiatives are listed below:

• Community Development: Aarth-Astha has been working in Govindpuri slums & Lulkaun village, South Delhi, since 2000. The work involves a) Strengthening rehabilitation services for persons within the community by helping the parents in accessing medical support, disability certificate, and other schemes for their child; b) Building capacities of children with disabilities so as to help them access pre-school services such as anganwadis or inclusive education in schools in their respective neighbourhoods; c) Facilitating focus groups comprising of women and young adults with disabilities, with the aim to enhance their life skills required for employment & to advocate for their rights, as well as of their children, with concerned government departments; and d) Sensitizing teachers and enabling them to understand the needs of children with disabilities in their class.
• Information Resources: One of the ongoing activities has been regular collection and dissemination of information through trainings, workshops and through its National Disability Helpline: ABILINE, that provides counselling & information through calls, emails, walk-ins and by post. Counselling and information dissemination is carried out to assist people who are in need of information regarding government schemes, education, scholarships, vocational training, loans, employment, aids and appliances, medical facilities, and all other areas related to disability. In 2013-14, Aarth-Astha reached out to around 500 parents, siblings, and persons with disabilities through various trainings on disabilities. Aarth-Astha has built alliances with several organizations, network of Rights based campaigns, and National level forums to advocate for rights of children with disabilities in education, food, and healthcare. In FY14, the organization has campaigned for various rights of persons with disabilities like Right to Education, Right to Food, and the New Bill of Disability Rights.