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Employment > Awards > N.C.P.E.D.P. - Shell Helen Keller Awards 2000

Kaushik Das: Man with a mission

After working for 22 years in premium tea companies of India, in 1996, Kaushik willingly left his commercial career to devote his time to voluntary service. He started, Atma Nirbhar–Ek Challenge, a registered society in Guwahati, working for the economic rehabilitation of disabled people. The primary objective is to offer disabled persons an opportunity to work with dignity, earn a living, and to become economically self-reliant.

Atma Nirbhar is an income-generating project, wherein tea and spices are packaged and marketed under the brand name ‘Nav Jeevan’ (New Life). A small unit with just 11 workers, it employs people with mental disabilities. What is common to all the disabled employees working at Atma Nirbhar is that they are happy because they are making a useful contribution and working under stress free conditions.

Today, Nav Jeevan products are also being marketed in Nagaland, Meghalaya, Mumbai and Pune.

Kaushik is also instrumental in starting an advocacy group called Pragati in Assam, which has disability N.G.O.s and individuals as its members.

Being a full time volunteer, Kaushik is associated with many other social welfare and voluntary organisations. Kaushik has been an active Rotarian since 1985, a Past President of the Rotary Club of Guwahati South.

Tel: 0361-471 668

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