A Startup Hub for differently abled in Hyderabad
Introduction
A Hyderabad-based differently-abled entrepreneur, Vasundhara Koppula is sparing no effort to make this society a better place for people with special needs. Currently, she is mulling over setting up a startup hub in the city which will be friendly towards, and exclusively work for differently-abled individuals who are qualified yet unemployed.
The hub aims to clear a path for them to set up a small-scale or big-scale business through financial assistance.
“The idea to start a hub of this kind hit my mind seeing how differently-abled individuals are encountering pitfalls in every step they take and are being a victim of discrimination. Many are giving up hope of a job in a private firm or self-employment due to a lack of moral and monetary support. The societal pressure is further pushing us into depression,” says Vasundhara, who did her PG diploma in Journalism and is currently running a media firm named ‘Weave Media'.
Vasundhara has been putting all the stops to make the whole world realise that differently-abled individuals are capable to pull off everything and anything if given a chance. Through her firm, she earlier organised Visually-Challenged Cricket League (VVCL) where over 120 visually-challenged persons took part from the city.
She also organised a mega beauty contest named ‘Miss Ability' for differently-abled persons for which she received extreme backlash “as most believe beauty doesn't go hand in hand with people with special needs”.
Vasundhara is currently in talks with T-Hub and hopes to launch the initiative soon. She recently met Governor of Telangana Tamilisai Soundararajan to put forth her idea. She is also looking for sponsorship for the welfare of the differently-abled.
On January 31, Vasundhara is conducting the second edition of ‘Pride of Hyderabad – Business Icon Awards 2020' under which around 50 entrepreneurs will be chosen from the city across 10 categories. The award winners will pledge to support the differently-abled by hiring them if they find they are meeting their requirements.
Source
The Indian Express , 19 January 2020
