Two startups that are breaking new ground in the disability sector

When a non-disabled person thinks of disability, stereotypes may come to mind, or more often, thoughts of pity and charity. Not many think of the rights of persons with disability, only what they may do to help the "helpless", according to Jeeja Ghosh(48), a disability activist and self-advocate, who worked at the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (IICP) until recently. It is to replace the charity-based model with a rights-based one that Ghosh, along with her compatriots, Chandra Sen Gupta (45) and Sayomdeb Mukherjee aka Den (38), launched not one but two companies in November. "The charity-based model of looking at disability, or indeed many aspects of the social sector, not only takes away the dignity of these persons, but is also dated," says Ghosh, who has herself been living with cerebral palsy since birth. "The idea behind two companies is that one will be able to support the activities of the other."

Ebullience Advisors seeks to work with corporates and NGOs and help them create a more disability-friendly environment overall. "Suppose a corporate company wants to take steps towards creating such an inclusive atmosphere, we would be the ones to help them achieve this," explains Ghosh. "If NGOs want to organise events or create material that would boost their popularity, we would help them achieve this as well, in the capacity of advisors."

For the latter part of the venture, the disability activist is aware that the company will have to do some amount of pro bono work until the organisations they are working with are able to gain a footing. "We would draft out the contracts in a way that does not require them to pay until they see the results."

While Ebullience is an advisory body with advocacy as its main goal, Inclusion Infinite Foundation, which will be working hand-in-glove with the former, looks to help people with disabilities more directly. "The simplest way to explain the functioning of Inclusion Infinite is to give you a current example," says Ghosh. "While working at IICP, Den and I curated a programme that had a number of disabled musicians performing. They were highly talented but had not received proper formal training. So with Inclusion Infinite, we would get them the funding and guidance they need to flourish. This is completely pro bono work, and will be supported by Ebullience in terms of funds."

What the trio of founders vehemently underline is that this is a commercial venture into the social sector, perhaps the first of its kind to be made in India in the disability sector. "We registered as a Section 8 Company [ie those that promote research, religion, culture, social welfare, art, science, sports, etc, with the profits directed at promoting the company and no dividends paid to its founders]. As such, this is more transparent than an NGO would be as everything is out on the public forum. It is also not dependent on external factors or CSR programmes of big companies for its functioning."

Rights, above all, is important to Ghosh and her fellow co-founders. "If we keep looking for charity ourselves, how can we ask to be viewed as equal?"

We Don’t Need No Charity

Founders Sayomdeb Mukherjee, Chandra Sengupta and Jeeja Ghosh at the launch event of Ebullience Advisors and Inclusion Infinite Foundation jointly seek to create a more inclusive environment in workplaces and other spheres