Mumbai, 10th October 2022: Tata Power Community Development Trust, to foster inclusion and
diversity, hosted ‘New Age Tech Expo for People with Disabilities; a one-day experiential showcase,
where 13 new-age technology solutions that aid people with disabilities were demonstrated live to
participants. The event was part of Tata Power’s ‘Pay Autention’ initiative and aimed to create
awareness among organizations, decision-makers, and corporates about assistive technologies that
help these special individuals integrate better into the mainstream and lead more holistic lives.
The assistive technology offerings were demonstrated by Xavier’s Resource Center for the Visually
Challenged (XRCVC), IIT Bombay, Torchit, Social Alpha supported enterprise Kidaura. These
offerings included new-age tech solutions for dyslexic, visually-impaired, and speech-impaired
individuals; assistive equipment for the deaf and mute and physically-impaired individuals; and online
therapy as well as therapy delivery platforms for neuro-diverse individuals.
The experiential event included live tech-experience opportunity, food & music by differently abled;
conversations, panel discussions & fireside chats on triumphs, challenges & progress in India's
assistive technology journey, its evolving trajectory, and future scope.
The expo is another step towards enhancing the PayAutention support network; bringing together
industry, academia, innovators, social enterprises, NGOs, and other stakeholders to work together
and bridge silos to accelerate the journey towards a more inclusive society. It is also the precursor to
a series of workshops and a national Round Table, that will be organized to facilitate deeper
dialogues that shape and influence policy and collective action.
The thoughtfully curated event witnessed meaningful and progressive conversations under one roof
with experts, practitioners, and tech companies. The panel included Prof. Azizuddin Khan,
Humanities and Social Sciences department, IIT Bombay; Ms. Nidhi Bhasin, CEO, NASSCOM
Foundation; Mr. Sameer Rawal, Start-up Mentor at Tata Consultancy Services; and Ms. Ankita
Gulati, Founder of assistive technology start-up TouchVision and was moderated by Ms. Jyoti Kumar
Bansal, Chief Branding, Communications, CSR, and Sustainability. Another panel discussion was
pre-recorded & screened to understand working journeys & tech-enablement experienced by
differently abled professionals who were employed or self-employed in different organizations &
work-roles.
There were round-table conversations held by Mr. Himal Tewari – Chief Human Resource
Officer Tata Power, Mr. G Vijaya Raghavan – Trustee, CADRRE and Ms. Foram Nagori – Trustee
TPCDT with participation from teams of Tata Group companies, Axis Bank Foundation, Mr. Vineet
Saraiwala, Founder Atypical Advantage, Ms Rashmi Patil, International classical dancer, Mr. Sachin
Shetty. Banker and model, Mr. Chainsing Rajpurohit, Corporate Employee, Mr. mandar Prabhughate
& Ms Veena Naren who are parents of children with Autism and Dr. Vaishali Kolhe from Tata Institute
of Social Sciences Center for Disability Studies & Action. The discussions will be made available
virtually for larger audience through Pay Autention dedicated YouTube channel.
Commenting on the initiative, Mr. Sanjay Banga, President, Transmission & Distribution, Tata Power,
"At Tata Power, we strongly believe in demonstrating our core mission of ‘Leadership with Care’. In
line with this mission, Tata Power Community Development through its flagship initiatives strives
towards inclusive social development, and the Pay Autention network is a result of our efforts in this
direction. Given the all-pervasive presence of technology in our lives, we believe that new-age
technology can be a catalyst in supporting and enhancing the lives of people with disabilities. Today,
India being a progressive nation is steering the technology revolution, and we are proud to facilitate
an expo that creates awareness and sensitization about the potential of these technologies to better
integrate our special fellow humans into society."
Speaking at the occasion Dr. Ravi Prakash Singh, Officer Incharge, National Institute for the
Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (Divyangjan) (NIEPID), Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment, Government of India said "I'm happy to be a part of Tata Power's tech
expo that aims to promote the role of technology in enabling people with disabilities. Initiatives like
Pay Autention are important for the rehabilitation and inclusion of persons with disabilities in society. I
urge corporates and organizations to join this movement to foster inclusive development"
In line with Tata Power's philosophy of holistic and inclusive development, On World Autism
Awareness Day, Tata Power Community Development Trust (TPCDT) had partnered with the Center
for Autism and other Disabilities Rehabilitation Research and Education (CADRRE) to launch 'PAY
AUTENTION - A different mind is a gifted mind', India's first bridgital Autism support network. Under
this initiative, TPCDT and CADRRE aspire to empower parents, caregivers, Anganwadi workers,
public health center workers, schoolteachers, staff of social development organizations, and social
workers to be the primary identification and support champions who will augment early intervention
for children and young adults with Autism.
Through on-ground awareness sessions, online workshops & synergies with education and likeminded influencers & foundations; the PayAutention network has empowered over 200 Anganwadi
workers from the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), who further reach thousands of
households, hence furthering early identification awareness and multiplying the reach to underserved
regions. PayAutention's toll-free helpline number (18002099488) has been launched to address
queries from all over the country for Autism spectrum-related support. Tata Power CSR has enabled
a verified ecosystem listing for this helpline. Over 3000 people have engaged from the several
interactions organized online & offline across multiple states including Maharashtra, Madhya
Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and New Delhi.
Furthering the initiatives, TPCDT is creating multiple partnerships to amplify auxiliary support
systems for neuro-diverse individuals. Pay Autention shall soon launch a program to empower 1000
champions to voluntarily serve across India for early identification & music, play, and dance-based
therapy. To amplify on-ground champions and action; a series of awareness street plays have also
been launched along with several other communications aids.
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