"Mr Akhil Paul receives Lakshmipat Singhania-IIM Lucknow National Leadership Award 2010

Mr Akhil Paul, director of Sense International (India) received the Young Leader Award in the ‘Community Service and Social Upliftment’ category at the prestigious Lakshmipat Singhania - IIM Lucknow National Leadership Awards ceremony on September 15, 2011 at Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi. The award was presented by Shri P Chidambaram, Hon’ble Minister for Home Affairs.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Paul said “It is an honour to be conferred with this award. It means a lot for me as our work for deafblind people gets recognized by the business community at large. ” The award comprise of a trophy and a citation.

The Lakshmipat Singhania-IIM Lucknow awards honour individuals who have exhibited exceptional leadership through pursuit of excellence, in respective fields of business, science and technology and community service & social upliftment. Dr Chidambaram gave away the awards to those who have excelled in the field of business, science and technology and community service and social uplift at a glittering function.

With experience of about 20 years, Mr Paul is an authority in the field of community based rehabilitation of people with multiple disabilities; providing expertise and support in developing services in various countries including Malaysia, East & Central Africa, Colombia, Bolivia and South Asia.

He is also a member of Drafting Committee, constituted by the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (Govt of India) to draft the new disability act- Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill-2011. He has also been awarded with the HSBC-Indo British Award in 2003 and the prestigious “Karmveer Puraskar” in 2010 for outstanding services to deafblind people in India.

Coverage in The Economic Times

Lakshmipat Singhania-IIM Lucknow National Leadership Award 2010

"Sense International (India) win Stars Impact Award of $ 100,000

Sense International (India) has won a $100,000 award from the STARS Foundation. The award will assist the deafblind charity in its work throughout India. The charity was chosen for an Education Award because of its partnership approach. It set up South Asia’s first teacher training and mentoring course in deafblindness (sight and hearing loss).

The Ahmedabad based charity already reaches 27,000 deafblind people in India and works with 37 partners in 19 states. The award will mean it can continue its programmes with some of the most vulnerable children in India. Its goal is to reach 70,000 deafblind people by 2017.

Akhil Paul, Director of Sense International (India) said “For more than ten years Sense International (India) has been empowering deafblind people in India. To be one of just six organisations in the world to receive this award is a real honour and demonstrates our track record for transforming deafblind people’s lives. We are deeply grateful to The STARS Foundation for the recognition but most of all it will help us to reach thousands more people and continue our campaigning work in the region.”

Muna Wehbe, Chief Executive of the STARS Foundation said: “Sense International (India) delivers truly unique services to children who without support would be isolated from mainstream society. Through its work with partners, the organisation responds to real needs, with tangible and effective programmes being provided to some of the most vulnerable children in the country.”

"HSBC Indo- British Award" to Mr. Akhil Paul, Director, Sense International (India)

The "4th HSBC Indo- British Award" was instituted in 1997, to commemorate India's 50 years of Independence. The Award is to be given alternately in India to an Indian individual, company, or NGO who have furthered Indo - British relations.

This year, in addition to considering those who have contributed to the improvement of Indo-British trade and business relations, HSBC widened its scope to also recognise outstanding contributions in the community. Mr. Akhil Paul, Director of Sense International (India) has been awarded the "4th HSBC Indo- British Award" in the Community Category for his exemplary contribution to the field of deafblindness and thus furthering Indo- British relations.

The selection Committee consisted of Sir Rob Young, British High Commissioner to India, Anil Dharkar, social commentator and journalist and Niall S. K. Booker, CEO, HSBC India.

Sense International (India) is an organisation that was set up in 1997 to support the development of education of deafblind children throughout the country. Deafblindness is a unique disability - a combination of visual and hearing impairments. Though the degree of deafness or blindness varies, the combination of dual sensory loss gives persons unique problems with their communication, mobility and their ability to access information. It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 deafblind people in India. This is a significant group of our society who are receiving virtually no educational stimulation at all. Most of these children live in total isolation and many others are wrongly diagnosed. This is largely because there is little awareness of this disability and there is a severe shortage of specialist teachers in India.

With the encouraging support of national and International donors, Sense International (India) has succeeded in sensitising local partner organisations throughout the country to develop over 25 rural and urban programmes for deafblind people in 13 states of India.

The Event:
The "4th HSBC Indo-British Award" was bestowed on Mr. Akhil Paul by Sir Rob Young, British High Commissioner at Hotel Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi on 8th October'2003.

This event has conveyed the message of deafblindness and Sense International (India) and emphasise the importance of support for this much-needed development in India.

Click for HSBC Indo-British Award Acceptance Speech of Akhil

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