Swayamkrushi is celebrating 35 years of empowering persons with intellectual disabilities through education, vocational training and independent living. Founded by Manjula Kalyan, the organisation has transformed thousands of lives while promoting inclusive education, employment and community-based rehabilitation initiatives.
Published Date – 24 July 2026, 04:49 PM
Hyderabad: Swayamkrushi, a non-profit organisation engaged in pioneering work in the country to empower Persons with Intellectual Disabilities with personalized educational programs, vocational skill development training, and independent living skills, is celebrating 35 years of service in the field.
Established in 1991 by Manjula Kalyan, considered a doyenne in the field in the country, Swayamkrushi is rooted in the philosophy of providing equal learning and personal growth opportunities to persons with special needs. “We strive to equip persons with intellectual disabilities with necessary skills, knowledge and support to live fulfilling lives and become self-reliant members of society,” she says.
Besides running a school and hostel for girls with intellectual disabilities (above the age of 18 years), Swayamkrushi, also offers a B Ed course in Special Education (affiliated to Osmania University) and is in the threshold of introducing a Masters too.
Most of the students who graduate from Swayamkrushi find placements abroad. “Our B Ed degree is virtually a visa to go abroad. I found 36 Swayamkrushi graduates working in Atlanta alone and several others in South Carolina and Mississippi when I visited the US,” the founder said.
She was bestowed with several awards including the National Award for Welfare of People with Disabilities by former President late Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, for her pioneering work, particularly in promoting the Group Homes concept in 1991, much ahead of it being ratified by the Government of India through the Inclusion Act in 2007. “I conceived the idea of group homes that houses eight women with different levels of intellectual disabilities, living together akin to extended Indian families,” she explains.
She was also conferred with the National Award for Best Individual Professional by former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu in 2018 and also authored two books for B Ed course besides co-authoring four UNICEF-funded manuals for learning disabilities.
Swayamkrushi shifted its operations to the new five acre campus at Chennapur in Jawahar Nagar in 2016. The campus has buildings that house classes for children with intellectual disabilities, a hostel exclusively for about 70 girls, physiotherapy and speech therapy units, a huge kitchen and dining area that caters to about 150 persons every day and the college for B Ed and upcoming M Ed courses.
The organisation has a staff of about 70 persons, mostly women from the neighbouring villages. “The huge building blocks in the new campus were built brick by brick through support from a businessman in Dubai, NTPC, LIC, SBH, several philanthropists as also the local community,” Manjula says.
Manjula Kalyan introduced a unique method of facilitating community contribution by forming a DOS (Dal, Oil, Sugar) club. “I approached women in the colony to buy an extra kg of these commodities when they shop for their families, and this proved to be a big success,” she said.
In another unique initiative, she also went to schools, explained to the children about condition of the less fortunate ones and urged them to drop a cake of soap, toothbrush, comb or other such simple items that are used daily, in a box that she placed in the school premises.
Swayamkrushi students have participated in the NCC annual training camp, walked the ramp at a Rotaract Club Fashion Show and have been regulars as a separate contingent in the State’s Republic Day Celebrations every year.
In the past, the children have participated in the National Olympics for Special Children winning four gold medals and one silver medal. Two girls, Ammi and Gayatri, represented India in the handball event at the Special Olympics in Greece winning bronze and silver medals, while Akshara represented India in the Special Olympics at Australia in the Bocce game, winning a bronze medal.
Ten girls with intellectual disabilities who were trained at Swayamkrushi work at Ratnadeep chain of stores in various departments, while trainees have produced and exported 450 cloth bags to the US and their products are also supplied to premium hotels including Grand Kakathiya, Novotel and Marriott.
