A professional vocalist and co-founder of the Mumbai-based NGO Trinayani, Ritika Sahni is passionately committed to empowering persons with disabilities (PWDs) with training and livelihood opportunities while educating and sensitising the public to people with special needs. Since it was registered in 2006, Trinayani has placed 40-50 PWDs in industry, has conducted around 250 disability awareness and teacher training workshops, and produced audio messages and films on disability-related issues.

Newspeg. Last month, visually challenged reflexology massage therapists trained in the NGO’s Sparsh Foot Spa were contracted by the city’s Oberoi Mall, to offer this service to the public. Over the past two months, Trinayani has conducted disability awareness and sign language workshops for cosmetics giant L’Oreal and Delhi Public Schools in Pune, Coimbatore, Patna and Ludhiana.

History. A graduate in deaf education of the Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai, Sahni began volunteering with the Manovikas Kendra Rehabilitation and Research Institute, Kolkata while still a student. Subsequently, she signed up with the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy and Oral School for the Deaf ” both in Kolkata. In 1999, the aspiration to develop her music talent prompted Sahni to move to Mumbai. While pursuing her musical dream, she continued her work with disabled people and served as head of the speech and language department of the Spastics Society of India (now ADAPT), Mumbai.

Thoroughly committed to the cause of PWDs and determined to ensure they are given their rightful place in society, this musically gifted activist uses the audio-visual and cultural media ” films, radio shows, theatre, music, dance and poetry ” to popularise Trinayani™s cause and messages. Recently, the NGO’s 30-second film Leave No One Behind was repeatedly telecast by several television channels including Doordarshan, News X, 9 X, CNBC, TV18, and Movies Now while its 15-minute weekly radio show, Mud Mud Ke Na Dekh, is in its third season (All India Radio and 107.1 FM Rainbow Mumbai).

Direct talk. Films, radio shows, theatre and music are powerful media through which we can break down stereotypes about PWDs, promote their greater acceptance in corporate organisations, media, banks, education institutions, government and the professions. Through intensive workshops, we generate awareness about disability issues, and advise corporates on ways and means to make companies more inclusive. We also facilitate the employment of PWDs, says Sahni.

Future plans. Sahni and her team have ideated new ways of spreading Trinayani’s messages to the public, especially education institutions, in the new year. A three-part e-module providing insights into the lives of disabled people is being designed for schools. On the drawing board is a game similar to Monopoly for students around the theme of barriers which hinder and inconvenience PWDs, while exploring solutions to remedy them. The creative arts, especially music, will feature prominently in all my future endeavours to inspire people to understand, enable and empower PWDs to live happy, productive and fulfilling lives, she says.

Wind beneath your wings!

Indrajit Dutta (Mumbai)