Swabhiman ''State disABILITY Information and Resource Center''

What struck her was the stark difference in the quality of life of persons with disabilities in India and South-Asia as compared to other countries. She had already got a lot of knowledge from the magazines she was reading but the practical viewing was stupendous. Disabled people were considered as second class citizens in our country, who lived to die. Persons with disabilities had no place in society. They were confined to rooms at homes in urban areas, special schools or vocational training centers, buildings of various associations for the disabled, or to the beds in hospitals. Dr. Mohapatra refused to yield to society’s then norms. Disabled people were as much human as anyone else. Dr. Mohapatra herself couldn’t walk, but she could think, speak, see, and perceive like anyone else.

The 1999 Super cyclone in Odisha was her first and direct involvement in disability work at the grassroots’ level. The death, the stench, the fear, and the destruction so close to life, unsettled her. And in 2000, she had an opportunity to visit Erasama with the team from Action Aid. The death, destruction, and suffering of people devastated her. She couldn’t fathom the depth of suffering of those disabled by the cyclone and those who were earlier disabled and were now mutilated by the cyclone.

​In 2000, the Action Aid team led by program officer Madhumita Ray suggested that Dr. Mohapatra initiate an NGO to work for the cause of disability. She was then busy putting together a platform where children with disabilities and those without could spend a few days and enjoy hands-on activities. Her exposure in the USA of children studying and playing together had convinced her that children were the ambassadors of a cause. For visibility of the disabled, disabled and non-disabled children together had to have a meeting point. She had met 21 officers and important decision-makers in various organizations and the concept had been rejected.​

The 22nd meeting was with Ms. Sukanya Rath, the Child Rights and Information Officer of UNICEF, Orissa office in 2001. “Why not! How wonderful…”, was the response. Ms. Sukanya Rath is a lady of immense vision and dynamism. Enthusiastic and active, she said, “Let’s get doing!” Dr. Mohapatra had known her since they were in college. They were a group of young, bubbly people, who had founded GLASH, an amateur music group that had become the talk of the town in the 1980s.

The 23rd meeting was with Mr. R. Balakrishnan, the then Secretary, Culture and Tourism (GoO). Never before had Dr. Mohapatra met a more sensitive and empathetic government officer. “Sruti, we should have a world-class event someday, can you promise me that?”, was all he said. And thus, Anjali was born in December 2001.

​In 2001, we started an office of Swabhiman in Dr. Mohapatra’s residence, and by 2002, Swabhiman was a registered non-profit with an identity of its own in terms of a Governing Body, a bank account, and byelaws. Dr. Mohapatra personally believes that more than a piddly disability pension, what people with disabilities need is information. With the right information, at the right time, each person with a disability is capable of taking care of his/her own life and living with dignity. And that is what Swabhiman strives for.