Chennai: NASSCOM Foundation and Microsoft India in partnership with the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Department of Science & Technology (DST), and ERNET this week announced the winners of ‘Innovate for an Accessible India‘(IAI) – a pan India initiative that fosters innovative use of technology to address problems faced by Persons with Disabilities.

A press release here said, 11 winners were chosen from amongst 3000+ innovative solutions in the areas of education, skills and livelihood, mobility, health and e-governance.

This also includes two winners for a special AI for Good Awards from across all categories.

The winners have been chosen from both early stage startups and established organisation categories and will get catalytic grants of Rs five and 10 lakh each respectively.

All the winners will also be supported with customised industry mentorship and Microsoft cloud and tech support to scale their innovations.

Anant Maheshwari, president, Microsoft India said, “The mission of Innovate for Accessible India is to design technology that empowers people of all abilities”.

Ashok Pamidi, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation, said, “With us receiving a record 3000+ applications in the first year itself, we are incredibly thrilled with the innovation potential and intent towards the sector. On the eve of International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we hope to present these innovations to all of India’s 2.7 Cr PwDs. We will also support the innovations to scale-up fast through catalytic grants and industry mentorship”.