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Disability NGO VOSAP launches fresh partnerships in Gujarat and Odisha
The UN-accredited NGO led by Pranav Desai advances Vision 2047 for inclusion in Gujarat, Odisha, and beyond.
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Pranavi Sharma - Tue, 21, Oct 2025
- 01:12 EDT
- 26
Pranav Desai met with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel to sign MoU to accelerate diability inclusion. / VOSAP
Voice of Specially Abled People (VOSAP), a UN-accredited disability rights organization founded by Indian-origin Pranav Desai, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Government of Gujarat to accelerate disability inclusion and empowerment under its Vision 2047 initiative. The agreement followed Desai’s meeting with Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel earlier this month, marking a key step toward expanding opportunities for persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) across the state.
According to VOSAP, the collaboration aims to align Gujarat’s inclusion roadmap with the national Vision 2047 goals and will contribute toward building inclusive education, employment, and accessibility ecosystems. “This collaboration with the state contributing 10 percent of India’s economy will accelerate disability empowerment and Vision 2047 goals, driving impactful change and opportunities for Divyangjan across India,” the organization said in a statement.
The Gujarat meeting came amid a series of high-level engagements led by Desai across multiple Indian states, including Odisha and Goa, where VOSAP presented its Vision 2047 framework to policymakers, ministers, and senior government officials. In Bhubaneswar, Desai met Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, Governor Raghubar Das, and Member of Parliament Pratap Chandra Sarangi to discuss measures for expanding accessibility, inclusive education, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.
During his Odisha visit, Desai also led a mass enablement event at Rama Devi Women’s University in Bhubaneswar, where over 200 individuals with disabilities received assistive devices such as AI-based smart glasses, signable apps, and vision wallets. These devices are designed to enhance mobility, independence, and confidence, helping beneficiaries participate more actively in education and the workforce.
The event was attended by state officials and academics, including Vice Chancellor Chandrani Rath and State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Sanyas Kumar Behera, who is blind himself. Desai acknowledged their support in organizing the program and reaffirmed VOSAP’s commitment to scaling up inclusion initiatives in partnership with state governments.
In Bengaluru, Desai visited Mathrushree Manovikaasa Kendra, an orphanage for children with intellectual disabilities. The visit, part of Project HITARTH, focused on improving care, rehabilitation, and education for children with special needs. “This heartfelt experience reminded us of the human side of our mission reaffirming our responsibility to support organizations nurturing dignity, growth, and independence for every Divyangjan,” VOSAP said.
At a separate event in Goa, VOSAP convened senior policymakers, officials from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), and state commissioners to discuss advancing Vision 2047. Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary of DEPwD, emphasized the need for collaboration between NGOs and governments to scale impact.
VOSAP said these efforts reflect its broader strategy of combining advocacy, technology, and partnerships to make India an inclusive nation by 2047.
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