Celebrating Ability Beyond Barriers, the 24th CavinKare Ability Awards 2026 Honours Five India’s Trailblazing Achievers with Disabilities
Chennai, 14th February, 2026: Celebrating stories that transcend barriers and inspire change, CavinKare, in partnership with Ability Foundation, organised the 24th CavinKare Ability Awards 2026. 5 exceptional achievers with disabilities from across the country and across diverse fields were honoured. The landmark ceremony brought to the forefront inspiring individuals whose journeys have redefined perceptions and driven meaningful change. Eminent dignitaries led by Deepika T.C, captain of the World Cup winning blind women’s cricket team and Thanya Nathan, who is set to become Kerala’s first blind judge, attended the event and felicitated the recipients, reaffirming the importance of inclusion in all spheres.
A soulful musical concert by Purushothaman, winner of the 2023 Sa Re ga ma pa music reality show and Abinaya Shenbagaraj, well-known classical musician along with their team enthralled the audience. Sign language interpretation during the performance further underscored the message of total inclusion in the arts.
Established in 2003, the CavinKare Ability Awards have, over the years, recognised and honoured more than 100 exemplary individuals with disabilities from across the country for their outstanding contributions to society. The awards are presented under two distinguished categories: the CavinKare Ability Award for Eminence, which honours a person with disability who has founded an organisation that has created a transformative and lasting social impact; and the CavinKare Ability Mastery Awards, which recognise individuals with disabilities who have demonstrated excellence, distinction, and leadership in their respective fields. Together, these categories celebrate both visionary institution-builders and individuals whose achievements continue to redefine perceptions of ability and excellence in India.
This year’s awardees represent a unique and diverse cohort from varied fields and domains. Spanning disciplines such as education, employment, entrepreneurship, law, technology, arts, and civic engagement, The awardees have excelled in their respective areas while challenging societal perceptions and emerging as powerful agents of change.
The awardees of this year’s edition were hand-picked by an esteemed jury panel comprising distinguished experts from diverse disciplines, in recognition of their triumphs against all odds. The jury members for this year included Lt Gen Arun Ananthanarayan, PVSM, YSM, SM, VSM (Retd); Dr. Vinod Surana, Managing Partner & CEO, Surana & Surana International Attorneys; Dr. Mariazeena Johnson, Chancellor, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology; Mr. Madhan Karky, Lyricist and Screenwriter; and Mr. Lakshminarayanan Duraiswamy, Managing Director, Sundaram Home Finance Limited.
Commenting on the occasion, Mr. CK Ranganathan, Chairman and Managing Director, CavinKare Pvt. Ltd., said, “It is truly inspiring to see how individuals with disabilities continue to redefine excellence by rising above constraints and creating their own milestones. By honouring these worthy recipients, we recognise journeys that go beyond personal achievement to create a powerful ripple effect, driving meaningful societal change and strengthening the conversation around inclusion. The CavinKare Ability Awards celebrate this courage, determination, and exceptional talent, and we are honoured to spotlight stories that challenge assumptions and inspire communities to think differently. This initiative reflects our commitment to building a society where potential is never limited by perception, and where everyone is encouraged to aspire, excel, and go further than imagined.”
Congratulating the recipients, Ms. Jayshree Raveendran, Founder & Hon. Executive Director, Ability Foundation, said,” For 24 remarkable and amazing years, we have been fortunate to have been able to showcase the true potential of individuals with disabilities. An immensely rewarding journey, indeed. Each year, we witness the profound impact of our mission, as we continue to honour those who break barriers and inspire change.
Right from the nomination stages uptill witnessing the difficulty faced by our esteemed jury members in selecting the recipients, is a testament to the exceptional quality of nominees we receive year after year. Each nominee not only brings in their own unique story but also represents the potential for growth and success within the disability sector making the whole process a gratifying experience for everyone involved.
As we move forward, our commitment to empowering & including people with disabilities remains steadfast. We continue our mission to amplify voices that need to be heard in order to smoothen the path for a more inclusive future.”
The recipients of CavinKare Ability Awards 2026 are:
-
CavinKare Ability Special Recognition Award:
Sunil Jain, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Sunil Jain is the Founder Trustee and Chief Enabler of ASTHA, an organisation that works with persons with disabilities to support aspirational education, career pathways, civic participation, and access to sports and the arts. A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, he has over two decades of experience in tax, audit, and corporate consulting. His early life included long periods of medical treatment for a physical disability caused by poliomyelitis, which shaped his commitment to dignity, participation, and aspiration. Founded in 2007, ASTHA runs initiatives such as career mentoring programmes and the Indian Wheelchair Tennis Tour. His work has been recognised with the Karmaveer Chakra and as an India Inclusion Fellow, and continues to influence inclusive thinking across education, sport, and public life.
-
CavinKare Ability Award for Eminence:
Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Gurugram, Haryana
Dr. Jitender Aggarwal is the founder and leader of Sarthak Educational Trust, working to expand access to education, skills, and employment for persons with disabilities across India. After losing his vision due to macular degeneration, he saw first-hand how systems often exclude people with disabilities from mainstream opportunities. Through Sarthak, he has helped build clear pathways from early support to skills and jobs, worked closely with employers to make hiring more inclusive, and strengthened confidence on both sides of the workplace. His work has also focused on children with disabilities, digital access, and building shared platforms for learning, research, and collaboration, with the larger aim of dignity, independence, and sustained participation in society.
-
CavinKare Ability Mastery Awards:
Arivuraja Thangavelu, Kattumannar Koil,Tamil Nadu
Arivuraja Thangavelu is an entrepreneur who has spent years building work opportunities for people who are often left out of formal employment. He lives with a locomotor disability caused by polio,which has shaped how he thinks about access, work, and independence. Through MAPe IT Solutions, he has built a technology-led organisation working on drone surveys, mapping, and digital services, while training and employing persons with disabilities and youth from rural backgrounds. Many who joined without prior exposure now handle live projects, client coordination, and technical tasks. His focus has been steady employment, skill-building, and giving people the confidence to take responsibility and move forward on their own.
Shiv Kumar Sharma,Chandigarh, Punjab
Shiv Kumar Sharma works in disability rights in Chandigarh through legal awareness, theatre, and film. As a State Legal Services Consultant, he runs programmes that explain laws and government support to persons with disabilities. He also works in theatre and cinema, and played the lead role in Rabb Di Awaaz, India’s first multi-inclusive Hindi feature film. Shiv is blind since birth, and his own life experience helps him connect easily with people and their concerns. He co-founded the Rotaract Positive Ability Club and leads programmes such as Dinner in the Dark, which help the public understand blindness and support scholarships for visually impaired students.
Chandra Mouli Dwarapureddy, Narsipatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Chandra Mouli Dwarapureddy had just completed his BTech when, at the age of 21, an electrical accident resulted in the amputation of both arms and legs. The months that followed demanded patience, courage, and steadiness. Within six months, he was using prosthetic limbs and finding new ways to study, work, and live independently. He returned to academics with focus, completed a Law degree, cleared the CAT, and went on to study at IIM Ahmedabad.He has worked with Amazon and is currently with Accenture. Alongside his work, he stays closely connected with students and professionals with disabilities, sharing what has helped him move forward – clear thinking, sustained effort, and belief in one’s own ability to shape life through action.
About CavinKare: CavinKare is a diversified FMCG major with business interest in personal care, professional care, dairy, snacks, foods, beverages & salons. The brand portfolio consists of Shampoos (CHIK, Meera, Karthika, and Nyle), Hair Wash Powders (Meera &Karthika), Coconut Oil (Meera), Skin Creams (Fairever & Spinz), Deodorant; Talc (Spinz), Pickles (Ruchi & Chinni’s) and Snacks (Garden), Hair colors (Indica), Retail Salon Products (Raaga Professional), Beverages (Maa), Dairy (Cavin’s), Beauty Salons (Green Trends & Limelite), and D2C Personal Care products (Buds and Berries). Most of the brands are clear winners in their respective product categories. A dedicated R&D center equipped with the latest equipment and technologies constantly supports the divisions in their endeavour. CavinKare has achieved significant milestones and a competitive edge with a sound understanding of mass marketing dynamics and has established a firm foothold in the national market. CavinKare’s success is based on it being firmly grounded to its corporate mission ‘We shall grow significantly better than the industry by fostering innovation and building preferred brands, through passionate and delighted employees’.
About Ability Foundation: Established in 1995, with a philosophy much ahead of its time, Ability Foundation, headquartered in Chennai, has established itself as a national cross-disability umbrella organisation that has incessantly worked across the country towards an equitable society for every citizen with disability. By emphasizing the potential of people with disabilities and empowering them through trailblazing initiatives, Ability Foundation moves steadfastly to bridge the gap between people with and without disabilities. The Foundation engages in a range of activities from publishing, employment, media, and culture, to implementation of policy, legislation, and human rights, to realize the unwavering commitment towards an equitable civil society. Ability Foundation operates under the tenet that barriers created by societal attitudes rather than actual disabilities are what truly hinder people. Given the right opportunities at the right time, so much more is possible – an open mind is all it takes.
Photo Caption- L-R : Mr. Madhan Karky, Lyricist, Lt Gen Arun Ananthanarayan, PVSM, YSM, SM, VSM (Retd), Dr. Vinod Surana, Managing Partner & CEO, Surana & Surana International Attorneys; Mr. CK Ranganathan – Chairman & Managing Director, Cavinkare Pvt Ltd; Ms. Jayshree Raveendran, Founder & Hon. Executive Director, Ability Foundation; Chandra Mouli Dwarapureddy – Winner of CavinKare Ability Mastery Award; Mr. Arivuraja Thangavelu – Winner of CavinKare Ability Mastery Award; CA Sunil Jain – Winner of CavinKare Special Recognition Award; Mr. Shiv
Celebrating Ability Beyond Barriers, the 24th CavinKare Ability Awards 2026 Honours Five India’s Trailblazing Achievers with Disabilities
Chennai, 14th February, 2026: Celebrating stories that transcend barriers and inspire change, CavinKare, in partnership with Ability Foundation, organised the 24th CavinKare Ability Awards 2026. 5 exceptional achievers with disabilities from across the country and across diverse fields were honoured. The landmark ceremony brought to the forefront inspiring individuals whose journeys have redefined perceptions and driven meaningful change. Eminent dignitaries led by Deepika T.C, captain of the World Cup winning blind women’s cricket team and Thanya Nathan, who is set to become Kerala’s first blind judge, attended the event and felicitated the recipients, reaffirming the importance of inclusion in all spheres.
A soulful musical concert by Purushothaman, winner of the 2023 Sa Re ga ma pa music reality show and Abinaya Shenbagaraj, well-known classical musician along with their team enthralled the audience. Sign language interpretation during the performance further underscored the message of total inclusion in the arts.
Established in 2003, the CavinKare Ability Awards have, over the years, recognised and honoured more than 100 exemplary individuals with disabilities from across the country for their outstanding contributions to society. The awards are presented under two distinguished categories: the CavinKare Ability Award for Eminence, which honours a person with disability who has founded an organisation that has created a transformative and lasting social impact; and the CavinKare Ability Mastery Awards, which recognise individuals with disabilities who have demonstrated excellence, distinction, and leadership in their respective fields. Together, these categories celebrate both visionary institution-builders and individuals whose achievements continue to redefine perceptions of ability and excellence in India.
This year’s awardees represent a unique and diverse cohort from varied fields and domains. Spanning disciplines such as education, employment, entrepreneurship, law, technology, arts, and civic engagement, The awardees have excelled in their respective areas while challenging societal perceptions and emerging as powerful agents of change.
The awardees of this year’s edition were hand-picked by an esteemed jury panel comprising distinguished experts from diverse disciplines, in recognition of their triumphs against all odds. The jury members for this year included Lt Gen Arun Ananthanarayan, PVSM, YSM, SM, VSM (Retd); Dr. Vinod Surana, Managing Partner & CEO, Surana & Surana International Attorneys; Dr. Mariazeena Johnson, Chancellor, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology; Mr. Madhan Karky, Lyricist and Screenwriter; and Mr. Lakshminarayanan Duraiswamy, Managing Director, Sundaram Home Finance Limited.
Commenting on the occasion, Mr. CK Ranganathan, Chairman and Managing Director, CavinKare Pvt. Ltd., said, “It is truly inspiring to see how individuals with disabilities continue to redefine excellence by rising above constraints and creating their own milestones. By honouring these worthy recipients, we recognise journeys that go beyond personal achievement to create a powerful ripple effect, driving meaningful societal change and strengthening the conversation around inclusion. The CavinKare Ability Awards celebrate this courage, determination, and exceptional talent, and we are honoured to spotlight stories that challenge assumptions and inspire communities to think differently. This initiative reflects our commitment to building a society where potential is never limited by perception, and where everyone is encouraged to aspire, excel, and go further than imagined.”
Congratulating the recipients, Ms. Jayshree Raveendran, Founder & Hon. Executive Director, Ability Foundation, said,” For 24 remarkable and amazing years, we have been fortunate to have been able to showcase the true potential of individuals with disabilities. An immensely rewarding journey, indeed. Each year, we witness the profound impact of our mission, as we continue to honour those who break barriers and inspire change.
Right from the nomination stages uptill witnessing the difficulty faced by our esteemed jury members in selecting the recipients, is a testament to the exceptional quality of nominees we receive year after year. Each nominee not only brings in their own unique story but also represents the potential for growth and success within the disability sector making the whole process a gratifying experience for everyone involved.
As we move forward, our commitment to empowering & including people with disabilities remains steadfast. We continue our mission to amplify voices that need to be heard in order to smoothen the path for a more inclusive future.”
Photo Caption- L-R : Mr. Madhan Karky, Lyricist, Lt Gen Arun Ananthanarayan, PVSM, YSM, SM, VSM (Retd), Dr. Vinod Surana, Managing Partner & CEO, Surana & Surana International Attorneys; Mr. CK Ranganathan – Chairman & Managing Director, Cavinkare Pvt Ltd; Ms. Jayshree Raveendran, Founder & Hon. Executive Director, Ability Foundation; Chandra Mouli Dwarapureddy – Winner of CavinKare Ability Mastery Award; Mr. Arivuraja Thangavelu – Winner of CavinKare Ability Mastery Award; CA Sunil Jain – Winner of CavinKare Special Recognition Award; Mr. Shiv Kumar Sharma -Winner of CavinKare Ability Mastery Award; Dr. Jitender Aggarwal – Winner of CavinKare Ability Award of Eminence; Thanya Nathan C – Kerala’s first blind judge; Deepika TC – captain of the World Cup winning blind women’s cricket team and others.
The recipients of CavinKare Ability Awards 2026 are:
-
CavinKare Ability Special Recognition Award:
Sunil Jain, Bengaluru, Karnataka
Sunil Jain is the Founder Trustee and Chief Enabler of ASTHA, an organisation that works with persons with disabilities to support aspirational education, career pathways, civic participation, and access to sports and the arts. A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India, he has over two decades of experience in tax, audit, and corporate consulting. His early life included long periods of medical treatment for a physical disability caused by poliomyelitis, which shaped his commitment to dignity, participation, and aspiration. Founded in 2007, ASTHA runs initiatives such as career mentoring programmes and the Indian Wheelchair Tennis Tour. His work has been recognised with the Karmaveer Chakra and as an India Inclusion Fellow, and continues to influence inclusive thinking across education, sport, and public life.
-
CavinKare Ability Award for Eminence:
Dr. Jitender Aggarwal, Gurugram, Haryana
Dr. Jitender Aggarwal is the founder and leader of Sarthak Educational Trust, working to expand access to education, skills, and employment for persons with disabilities across India. After losing his vision due to macular degeneration, he saw first-hand how systems often exclude people with disabilities from mainstream opportunities. Through Sarthak, he has helped build clear pathways from early support to skills and jobs, worked closely with employers to make hiring more inclusive, and strengthened confidence on both sides of the workplace. His work has also focused on children with disabilities, digital access, and building shared platforms for learning, research, and collaboration, with the larger aim of dignity, independence, and sustained participation in society.
-
CavinKare Ability Mastery Awards:
Arivuraja Thangavelu, Kattumannar Koil,Tamil Nadu
Arivuraja Thangavelu is an entrepreneur who has spent years building work opportunities for people who are often left out of formal employment. He lives with a locomotor disability caused by polio,which has shaped how he thinks about access, work, and independence. Through MAPe IT Solutions, he has built a technology-led organisation working on drone surveys, mapping, and digital services, while training and employing persons with disabilities and youth from rural backgrounds. Many who joined without prior exposure now handle live projects, client coordination, and technical tasks. His focus has been steady employment, skill-building, and giving people the confidence to take responsibility and move forward on their own.
Shiv Kumar Sharma,Chandigarh, Punjab
Shiv Kumar Sharma works in disability rights in Chandigarh through legal awareness, theatre, and film. As a State Legal Services Consultant, he runs programmes that explain laws and government support to persons with disabilities. He also works in theatre and cinema, and played the lead role in Rabb Di Awaaz, India’s first multi-inclusive Hindi feature film. Shiv is blind since birth, and his own life experience helps him connect easily with people and their concerns. He co-founded the Rotaract Positive Ability Club and leads programmes such as Dinner in the Dark, which help the public understand blindness and support scholarships for visually impaired students.
Chandra Mouli Dwarapureddy, Narsipatnam, Andhra Pradesh
Chandra Mouli Dwarapureddy had just completed his BTech when, at the age of 21, an electrical accident resulted in the amputation of both arms and legs. The months that followed demanded patience, courage, and steadiness. Within six months, he was using prosthetic limbs and finding new ways to study, work, and live independently. He returned to academics with focus, completed a Law degree, cleared the CAT, and went on to study at IIM Ahmedabad.He has worked with Amazon and is currently with Accenture. Alongside his work, he stays closely connected with students and professionals with disabilities, sharing what has helped him move forward – clear thinking, sustained effort, and belief in one’s own ability to shape life through action.
About CavinKare: CavinKare is a diversified FMCG major with business interest in personal care, professional care, dairy, snacks, foods, beverages & salons. The brand portfolio consists of Shampoos (CHIK, Meera, Karthika, and Nyle), Hair Wash Powders (Meera &Karthika), Coconut Oil (Meera), Skin Creams (Fairever & Spinz), Deodorant; Talc (Spinz), Pickles (Ruchi & Chinni’s) and Snacks (Garden), Hair colors (Indica), Retail Salon Products (Raaga Professional), Beverages (Maa), Dairy (Cavin’s), Beauty Salons (Green Trends & Limelite), and D2C Personal Care products (Buds and Berries). Most of the brands are clear winners in their respective product categories. A dedicated R&D center equipped with the latest equipment and technologies constantly supports the divisions in their endeavour. CavinKare has achieved significant milestones and a competitive edge with a sound understanding of mass marketing dynamics and has established a firm foothold in the national market. CavinKare’s success is based on it being firmly grounded to its corporate mission ‘We shall grow significantly better than the industry by fostering innovation and building preferred brands, through passionate and delighted employees’.
About Ability Foundation:
Established in 1995, with a philosophy much ahead of its time, Ability Foundation, headquartered in Chennai, has established itself as a national cross-disability umbrella organisation that has incessantly worked across the country towards an equitable society for every citizen with disability. By emphasizing the potential of people with disabilities and empowering them through trailblazing initiatives, Ability Foundation moves steadfastly to bridge the gap between people with and without disabilities. The Foundation engages in a range of activities from publishing, employment, media, and culture, to implementation of policy, legislation, and human rights, to realize the unwavering commitment towards an equitable civil society. Ability Foundation operates under the tenet that barriers created by societal attitudes rather than actual disabilities are what truly hinder people. Given the right opportunities at the right time, so much more is possible – an open mind is all it takes.
Photo Caption- L-R : Mr. Madhan Karky, Lyricist, Lt Gen Arun Ananthanarayan, PVSM, YSM, SM, VSM (Retd), Dr. Vinod Surana, Managing Partner & CEO, Surana & Surana International Attorneys; Mr. CK Ranganathan – Chairman & Managing Director, Cavinkare Pvt Ltd; Ms. Jayshree Raveendran, Founder & Hon. Executive Director, Ability Foundation; Chandra Mouli Dwarapureddy – Winner of CavinKare Ability Mastery Award; Mr. Arivuraja Thangavelu – Winner of CavinKare Ability Mastery Award; CA Sunil Jain – Winner of CavinKare Special Recognition Award; Mr. Shiv Kumar Sharma -Winner of CavinKare Ability Mastery Award; Dr. Jitender Aggarwal – Winner of CavinKare Ability Award of Eminence; Thanya Nathan C – Kerala’s first blind judge; Deepika TC – captain of the World Cup winning blind women’s cricket team and others.
