Sankalp is a global platform that aims to catalyse impact investments into sustainable and scalable enterprises.

Established in 2009 with support from the Rockefeller Foundation, the Sankalp Forum is designed to discover, support and connect sustainable and investible social business models with impact investors.

The two-day event — to be held on May 5-6 this year — will bring together an eco-system of stakeholders that are interested in furthering social impact and entrepreneurship through market-based approaches.

The event will also see the Sankalp Awards, conferred upon sustainable, profitable and scalable social enterprises each year, recognising the level of impact created by innovative business models in the categories: 1) Agriculture, Food and Rural Innovations 2) Clean Energy 3) Education 4) Health, Water and Sanitation 5) Technology for Development

For details, read Sankalp Forum 2011.

Also read about Sankalp 2010

Rahul Gupta

Bombay Leprosy Project (BLP), an NGO working for the cure and rehabilitation of leprosy patients won the Best Employer 2010 Award from Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI) which was presented to them at MSSI’s silver jubilee function held in May at Masina Hospital, Byculla.

The award was conferred on BLP for its efforts in successfully rehabilitating Rahul Gupta (right), a multiple sclerosis patient. While MSSI took care of Rahul’s medical treatment, BLP trained him in computer operation and provided him employment. He has been working as a computer assistant at BLP for the last five years and is also doing his BCom by correspondence at Mumbai University
Rahul attributes his success to the two NGOs’ support: “I am grateful to MSSI and BLP for their physical and moral support that helped me considerably and instilled confidence in me” says Rahul, a resident of Kurla.

Rahul is not alone. There are many others who have learnt to fight their disease and disability with BLP’s support as this NGO has a tradition of training and employing those handicapped not only by leprosy but by other diseases as well. Sanjay Kulkarni, who suffers from paralysis of right leg due to polio, Anton Fernando, a cerebral palsy patient with severe neurological and physical disabilities, Baby Pujary who has mutilated right hand and leg, DV Raja, who suffers from schizophrenia and Ashok Kute and Mahendra Shinde, who were disabled by leprosy, have all been trained in different areas and employed by BLP.

The NGO Pearls Wave – Ek Leher, which uses the slogan Nari Shakti Ko Salam recently helf the Pearls Wave gala award night to salute and celebrate Indian women against violence.

The evening was meant to empower women to take a stand against violence and highlighted the efforts of the people working together to make a world free of violence and abuse.

Many celebrities also pledged their support to the ‘Women against Violence’ cause.

DNA