With Sixty Years of Impact, WORTH
Trust Launches Inspiring Book Celebrat ing Its Legacy and Vision for Inclusion
Chennai, 9th January, 2025: The Works hop for the Rehabilitation and Training of the Handicapped (WORTH) Trust, api oneer in empowering differently ab led people, celebrated its Diamond Jubilee, marking six decades of transformative impact. Commemorating this milestone, the trust unveiled a special book chronic ling its inspiring journey of fostering inc lusion, independence, and empowermen t titled – The WORTH Trust Story – A Sa ga of enabling the differently-abled. The book was unveiled by Mr. C. Antonysam y, Patron and Former Managing Directo r, WORTH Trust. The grand book launch witnessed the presence of the renowne d columnist, music historian, and heritag e connoisseur, Mr. Sriram V who also au thored the legacy book; accompanied b y Mr. Harish Lakshman, Chairman of W ORTH Trust alongside several other dig nitaries.
Following the unveiling, the book was pr esented by Mr. R. Parthasarathy, Former ormer Chairman, WORTH Trust to Mr. C Antonysamy, Patron and Former Manag ing Director, WORTH Trust, Mr. Ranjit P rkatap, Former Chairman, WORTH Trus t handed the book over to Mr. MV Subbi ah, Patron and Former Chairman, WOR TH Trust while Mr. Harish Lakshman, C hairman, WORTH Trust presented it to Mr. Viji Santhanam, Patron, Former Chai rman of WORTH Trust.
The book features a heartfelt prelude b y the Honorable Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru MK Stalin, who highlighted the trust’s dedicated service in the reha bilitation, education, training, employ y ment and empowerment of persons wi ith disabilities.
Reflecting on the occasion, Mr. Harish Lakshman, Chairman, WORTH Trust, sa id, “Sixty years ago, WORTH Trust emba rked on a journey to empower different ly abled people, and today, we stand as a testament to their indomitable spirit. Th is book is more than a chronicle of the hi story—it is a celebration of lives transfo rmed, a symbol of what inclusion truly means. It showcases the incredible resil sili silience of individuals who turned ch allenges into opportunities and became role models for society. As we celebrate this milestone, our vision for the future remains steadfast: to expand Trust’s re ach and continue creating pathways for dignity and self-reliance. The trust’s leg gacy is a shared achievement, and I ext end my heartfelt gratitude to every sta keholder, beneficiary, and supporter wh o made this journey possible.”
Adding to this, Mr Sriram V, renowned columnist, music historian, heritage con noisseur and the author of the book, sai d, “Documenting WORTH Trust’s journ ey was an inspiring experience. The stori es of courage and determination woven through this book highlight how a collec tive mission can redefine societal perce ptions. I believe this book will serve as a beacon of hope and a call to action for a more inclusive future.” Founded in 1965 , WORTH Trust has been at the forefron t of rehabilitation and vocational trainin g for the differently abled. Over the yea rs, the trust has established training cen ters, production units, and educational initiatives that empower individuals to lead independent and dignified lives. Th e book encapsulates this six-decade jou rney, emphasizing milestones such as th e establishment of skill development ce nters catering to
trades like engineering, welding, horticu lture and Smart Phone Technician cum App Tester; the development of inclusiv e employment models that integrate the differently abled into the mainstream w orkforce; and community outreach prog rams that have provided aids & applianc es, educational and medical support to t he Differently Abled.
The celebration, held in Chennai, broug ht together dignitaries, stakeholders, al umni, and supporters from across the co untry. The event honored WORTH Trus t’s legacy of reshaping societal percepti ons about disability and creating path w ays for individuals to lead dignified, self-reliant lives.
About WORTH Trust: WOrkshop for th e Rehabilitation and Training of the Han dicapped (WORTH) was established in 1 963 by the Swedish Red Cross with the objective of rehabilitating leprosy cure ed persons generally ostracized by socie ty, through industrial training and emplo yment. WORTH Trust today, is a Fully Se lf-sustained Rehabilitation Organizatio n. The production centers, which emplo y mostly persons with disabilities, enab le them to generate a surplus, with whic h the entire cost of its Technical Training Centers for the Speech & Hearing Impai red and Physically Challenged boys and girls, School for Speech and Hearing Im paired children, Early Intervention Cent re for the Speech & Hearing Impaired In fants, Early Intervention Centre for Infa nts with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Day Activity Centre for the Intellectually Ch allenged children, Arts & Crafts Centre f or the Intellectually Challenged and out reach activities are met. Registered as a charitable Trust, WORTH is managed by a Board of Trustees made up of eminent persons in diverse fields, united in their common interest in the service of perso ns with disabilities.
