NGO’s calendar features 12 differently abled youth icons across India

Suraj Kumar S, the operations manager of Swarga Foundation, tells DT Next, “Every year, we come up with a calendar as a fundraising initiative for our physiotherapy centre that gives free treatment for persons with neurological disorders. The theme for this year’s calendar is ‘youth icon’ - we have featured 12 youth icons who have showcased their talents in fitness, sports, fashion and academics. Last year’s theme for the calendar was ‘love and beyond’. It showcased 12 couples from across India.”

There was a jury to select the models for the calendar. It took more than five months for them to finalise the models. “We received a lot of entries from differentlyabled people across the country. That’s why we decided to have a jury to select the 12 models. The entire shoot was done during the lockdown,” he adds.

A few who features in the calendar include Venkatachalam M, who plays for the Tamil Nadu Wheelchair Basketball team, Satendra Singh Lohiya, swimming champion, Pratishtha Deveshwar, a UN Ambassador for disability rights, Priya Bhargava, a beauty pageant winner, Pranav Bakhshi, a model and Nishtha Dudeja, a beauty pageant winner. J Swarnalatha, the founder of Swarga Foundation, was also one of the models. She mentions in her note: “Disability or disease is not something to be shunned and forgotten.

As the previous year has shown the world, no one is immune however healthy they might be. Old age and mobility impairment is a part of life. It is high time we address this individually and collectively as a nation. The 12 models showcased here are ample proof of their power, perseverance, ability, resilience, and capability to perform as any able-bodied person. They carry a sense of purpose, ambition, a mix of warmth and sensuality, and the resolve to be as independent as possible and also contribute to society.”