Draft:Sushmeetha Bubna: Indian entrepreneur and social activist

Sushmeetha Bubna

Early Life and Education

Sushmeetha Bubna is an Indian entrepreneur and social activist, known for her work in empowering individuals with disabilities. She was diagnosed with progressive conditions that led to vision loss in one eye by the age of 10 and complete blindness by 24. Despite these challenges, she pursued her education, earning a degree in commerce and a Diploma in Administrative Management.

Career

In 1996, Sushmeetha joined her family’s technology-driven business. However, after losing her eyesight completely in 1997, she realized the lack of resources and training available for individuals like herself. This experience motivated her to make a significant career shift toward social entrepreneurship.

Voice Vision[1]

In 2000, Sushmeetha founded Voice Vision, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering individuals with visual impairments.[2] The organization focuses on training people in computer skills, soft skills, and other corporate proficiencies. Under her leadership, Voice Vision[1] has trained hundreds of students, enabling them to secure employment, achieve financial independence, and live with dignity and inclusion.

FAIYDA

Sushmeetha's latest initiative is FAIYDA[3] (Financial Ability for I, You, and All), an online marketplace that provides a platform for artists with disabilities to sell their handmade creations, ranging from edibles and costume jewelry to bespoke Kashmiri embroidery. FAIYDA aims to empower these artists by giving them direct access to customers, helping them achieve financial independence.

Recognition and Impact

Sushmeetha Bubna's work has been widely recognized for its impact on the lives of individuals with disabilities. With programs such as self defence for the visually impaired[4] [5], and creating a website to connect visually impaired with readers and writers[6], She has helped initiate platforms for matchmaking for people with disabilities. Through Voice Vision[1] and FAIYDA[3], she continues to advocate for inclusion and accessibility, helping create a more inclusive society.

  1. ^ a b c "Voice Vision". Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  2. ^ "Her 'vision' is to empower those without vision". The Hindu. 2013-01-09. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  3. ^ a b "Faiyda - Saamaan Se Sammaan Ki Aur". faiyda.com. 2013-08-06. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  4. ^ "Self Defence for Visually Impaired". The Indian Express. 2012-06-26. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  5. ^ "Help at hand for visually-impaired of Mumbai". DNA India. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
  6. ^ Johari, Aarefa (Apr 12, 2010). "Website to connect visually impaired with readers, writers". Hindustan Times.