Saksham

What Saksham does

Saksham Trust is a New Delhi-based non-profit organization founded in 2003 by Dipendra Manocha and Rummi K. Seth to empower persons with visual impairment in India through accessible content, assistive technology, inclusive education, and cultural participation. The organization operates a multi-component platform anchored by its Resource Centre (education, rehabilitation, and vocational training for children and adults, including those with multiple disabilities and deafblindness), a Digital Library that converts print materials into Braille, DAISY, and EPUB formats distributed via Sugamya Pustakalaya, and an Audio Description service that has covered 40+ films (earning a 2019 Limca Book of Records).

Saksham's proprietary assistive technology portfolio includes the DotBook refreshable Braille note taker (co-developed with IIT Delhi, Phoenix Medical Systems, and Kritikal Solutions as an affordable alternative to devices priced above INR 2 lakh), the SmartCane vibrating mobility device (IIT Delhi Assistech Lab), the EVO E10/E5 DAISY players, a Currency Identification Device for India and Mauritius, and the GoodFoodTalks.in accessible restaurant finder app. Distribution spans six Indian states — Delhi, Uttar Pradesh (Noida Resource Centre), Punjab, Himachal Pradesh (new Rohru centre, March 2026), Mizoram, and Telangana — plus digital channels including the Saktek Foundation online store and a 203-organization partner network.

The business model is non-profit and donation-driven: revenue comes from individual and corporate donations, CSR funding (HCL Foundation, Bajaj Finserv, Tata Steel Foundation, Meta), government and institutional grants aligned with the Accessible India Campaign, and subsidized device sales through saktek.in. Programs include the Aarohan higher-education inclusion initiative (formal MoUs with five Delhi/National universities since July 2021), the Jyotir Gamya rural digital-inclusion network (Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh with Tata Steel Foundation and UNESCAP support), and the Pratyasha early-intervention program with ADK Jain Eye Hospital. Saktek Foundation, launched in 2017, serves as the wholly-owned technology and commercialization arm.

Name

Saksham

Legal name

Saksham Trust

Website

https://saksham.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Saksham Trust is a New Delhi-based non-profit (founded 2003) that empowers persons with visual impairment in India through accessible content production, assistive technology devices like DotBook and SmartCane, inclusive education, and rehabilitation services across six Indian states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Services and Assistive Technology

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification) (EDAKAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive Vision & Screen Access (Screen Readers, Magnification, Braille Displays/Notetakers) (EDAFAKAD), Computer Access & Alternative Input (Switch, Eye Gaze, Head/Mouse, Keyboards) (EDAKAIAD), AT for Reading, Writing & Learning (Literacy/Executive Function) Tools & Training (EDAKAIAC), Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning) (EDAGALAH), Assistive Technology (AT) & Accessible Learning Tools (EDALAGAB)

Keywords

• Assistive technology solutions
• Accessible content production
• Inclusive education services
• Visual impairment rehabilitation
• Nonprofit disability services

Headquarters

HQ city

New Delhi, Delhi

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and CSR Funding: Saksham relies primarily on donations from individuals, corporations, and charitable trusts. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding from companies like HCL Foundation, Bajaj Finserv, and others supports specific projects and programs.
2. Subsidized Device Sales: Assistive devices including laptops, DAISY players, refreshable Braille displays, and mobile phones are provided at subsidized costs to beneficiaries. Through donations, expensive devices are subsidized to make them affordable.
3. Online Store (saktek.in): Online procurement platform for assistive devices for education, mobility, and independent living. Proceeds support operational costs.
4. Project Grants: Government and institutional grants for specific programs such as the Digital India campaign, Accessible India Campaign, and state-level initiatives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Saksham Trust, an Indian non-profit founded in 2003, operates a multi-component platform that produces accessible educational content (Braille, DAISY, EPUB, audio), provides subsidized assistive technology and training (refreshable braille note takers, DAISY players, screen readers, SmartCane mobility devices), runs inclusive education and rehabilitation programmes through resource centres and the Aarohan higher-education partnership, conducts audio description of films and cultural venues, and procures assistive devices via the Saktek online store. Activities are delivered directly to persons with visual impairment and through institutional, corporate, and government partners across multiple Indian states.

Product overview

Saksham operates a multi-component platform for persons with visual impairment centered on its Resource Centre (education, rehabilitation, and vocational services), supported by a Digital Library (accessible content conversion and distribution), Audio Description services (inclusive cinema and cultural access), and Assistive Technology provision and training. Key hardware products include the EVO E10 DAISY Player and DotBook refreshable braille note takers (developed with IIT Delhi), and the SmartCane mobility device. Saksham also runs specialized programs including the Aarohan higher-education inclusion initiative and the Jyotir Gamya rural digital-inclusion outreach, alongside the Saktek.in online store for assistive device procurement. In 2026, Saksham inaugurated India's first Inclusive Arts and Culture Gallery at the National Museum and a new resource centre in Rohru, Himachal Pradesh.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• DotBook: Refreshable Braille note taker developed in collaboration with IIT Delhi, available in 20-cell (DotBook20P) and 40-cell (DotBook40Q) variants.
• SmartCane

Products and services

• Saksham Resource Centre Multi-component centre providing quality schooling, early intervention, integrated education, computer training, pre-vocational programmes, deafblind training, orientation and mobility skills, and adult rehabilitation for children and adults with visual impairment, multiple disabilities, and deafblindness.
• Saksham Digital Library Library and production service that converts print books into accessible formats (EPUB, DAISY, Audio, Braille) and distributes them through Sugamya Pustakalaya and Saksham's physical centres, serving students, parents, and persons with sight loss across multiple Indian regional languages.
• Audio Description of Films and Cultural Rights Audio description service that translates visual information and non-dialogue portions of films into spoken words, enabling persons who are blind or visually impaired to access cinema and cultural content independently.
• Aarohan Programme Institutional partnership programme promoting inclusive and accessible higher education for students with visual impairment, delivered through formal MoUs with colleges and universities covering assistive technology deployment, academic content conversion, digital skill development, and campus inclusion.
• Jyotir Gamya Rural outreach initiative focused on digital empowerment and assistive technology access for persons with visual impairment and print disabilities in underserved and rural communities, delivered through trained State Champions, District Champions, and Saksham Citizens.
• DotBook Refreshable Braille Note Taker
• SmartCane Vibrating mobility device developed by IIT Delhi's Assistech Lab that helps persons who are blind detect obstacles in their path, enhancing safe navigation and independent mobility.
• EVO E10 and EVO E5 DAISY Players Portable DAISY-format digital talking book players enabling persons with visual impairment to access books and audio content in an organized, navigable format.
• Pratyasha Programme Eye-hospital-based early intervention programme providing needs assessment, assistive technology orientation, parent counselling, and educator capacity building for persons with visual impairment, including the Vision Beyond Sight special workshop series co-hosted with ADK Jain Eye Hospital.
• Heritage at My Fingertips Inclusive Gallery Inclusive arts and culture gallery at the National Museum, New Delhi, featuring tactile exhibits, audio descriptions, and accessible display formats designed using universal design principles to enable visitors with visual impairments to engage with India's cultural heritage through touch, sound, and accessible interpretation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of persons with visual impairment use technology for reading and writing; 100% for communication; 80% for internet search
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• Ministry of Culture, Government of IndiamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Collaboration to inaugurate India's first Inclusive Arts and Culture Gallery 'Heritage at My Fingertips' at National Museum, New Delhi. Gallery designed using universal design principles for persons with visual disabilities.
• National Museum, New DelhimajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 23 February 2026Partner in inauguration of India's first Inclusive Arts and Culture Gallery featuring tactile exhibits, audio descriptions, and accessible display formats.
• Meta (Facebook)majorGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 December 2022Meta supported Saksham's largest campaign 'Leveraging Social Media AccessAbility For All' launched on International Day for Persons with Disability. The campaign addresses accessibility needs of India's 26.8 million people with disabilities and 138 million older individuals.
• Vikasa TaranginimajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2022Joint initiative for 'Digital Empowerment' of students with blindness and low vision. Provided laptops at subsidized cost along with books and training.
• FICCImajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 April 2022Collaboration on research study 'Status and Opportunities for Promoting the Use of Assistive Technologies and Content for Persons with Disabilities in India' launched at Digital Bharat 2022.
• Kirori Mal College, University of DelhicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Founding partner institution under Aarohan program for promoting inclusive higher education. Hosts structured accessibility interventions and serves as key hub for inclusive higher education practices.
• Hindu College, University of DelhicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Partner institution engaged in awareness initiatives, assistive technology dissemination, and inclusive academic support under the Aarohan framework.
• Janki Devi Memorial College, University of DelhicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2021Collaborating to strengthen campus-level accessibility systems and promote independent academic participation for students with visual impairment.
• IIT Delhi (Assistech Lab)coreTechnology or IntegrationLong-standing partnership for development of assistive technology including DotBook refreshable Braille note takers, SmartCane, and other devices. Saksham provides user feedback and field testing for product development.
• Phoenix Medical SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationIndustry partner in development of DotBook refreshable Braille note takers. Collaborated on making assistive devices appropriate for Indian market.
• Kritikal SolutionscoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner for development of DotBook devices and other assistive technology solutions.
• Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating to institutionalize structured accessibility support and promote inclusive higher education systems.
• UNESCAPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Chhattisgarh phase of Jyotir Gamya addressing needs of persons with visual, hearing, and physical disabilities through customized assistive technology solutions.
• IIT Madras (R2D2 Lab)coreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in Chhattisgarh initiative developing lightweight lower limbs for persons with physical disabilities.
• National Institute of Speech and HearingcoreTechnology or IntegrationPartner in Chhattisgarh initiative developing vibrating alert devices for hearing impaired persons.
• ADK Jain Eye HospitalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Pratyasha program for vision rehabilitation. Collaborated on training eye care professionals and hosting Vision Beyond Sight workshops for children with visual impairment.
• NCAHT (National Centre for Assistive & Health Technologies), IIT DelhicoreTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for building capacity of eye care professionals and special educators in assistive technologies and accessibility solutions.
• DAISY Forum of India (DFI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 192 organizations of which Saksham is the Secretariat. Saksham's Founder Dipendra Manocha is President. DFI launched Sugamya Pustakalaya under Accessible India Campaign.
• Accessible Books Consortium (ABC), WIPOcoreTechnology or IntegrationNetwork of libraries across the world facilitating exchange of accessible books under Marakesh Treaty. Sugamya Pustakalaya is a registered member enabling sharing of accessible books globally.
• SakshamLifecoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology partner providing gateway to assistive technology, accessibility solutions, and digital empowerment resources for persons with disabilities.
• Raised Lines Foundation (RLF)coreTechnology or IntegrationCreated tactile diagrams that help visually impaired students understand visual concepts of Science, Math and Economics. Featured at Digital India Week 2022.
• Saktek FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology-providing arm of Saksham launched in 2017 to further the belief that power of technology can redefine what persons with disabilities can or cannot do.
• Indic AI FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint initiative with Saksham for accessibility and inclusion projects.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): UK's leading charity for people with sight loss, providing accessible content, assistive products, and advocacy. Closely comparable in accessible-content production (Daisy), assistive technology distribution, and advocacy, with global influence including collaborations referenced in Saksham's partnerships.
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB): US consumer and advocacy organization for the blind, with programs in education, technology, and Braille. Directly comparable mission and a key reference point in India's blind-rights ecosystem, where Saksham board members hold leadership roles in affiliated state branches.
• Perkins School for the Blind: Global leader in education and services for the blind and deafblind, operating schools, teacher training, and international programs. Comparable in education-and-rehabilitation scope and Braille/Daisy content expertise, but with broader international footprint and longer history.
• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): US-based organization advancing equity for people with visual impairments through research, publications, and assistive-technology resources. Comparable mission focus and accessible-content/AT distribution, though primarily a US advocate and resource provider.

Direct peers

• Enable India: Bangalore-based NGO providing education, vocational training, and assistive technology for persons with disabilities including the visually impaired. Closely comparable in mission scope (education + livelihoods + AT) and Indian non-profit operating model.
• Score Foundation: India-based foundation focused on empowerment of persons with visual impairment through employment, education, and assistive technology. Directly comparable in beneficiary focus, Indian geography, and non-profit service delivery model.
• National Association for the Blind (NAB): India's largest NGO serving persons with blindness through education, rehabilitation, and assistive technology. Operates the NAB Delhi talking book library referenced in Saksham's own board bios, and is the most direct domestic counterpart in mission, beneficiary base, and service portfolio.

Emerging players

• ViewPlus: US-based manufacturer of Braille embossers, tactile graphics, and accessibility software. Comparable in proprietary tactile/Braille technology development that competes for the same institutional buyer budget Saksham addresses through Aarohan.
• Humanware: Global assistive technology vendor producing Braille displays, DAISY players, and low-vision devices. Direct product-line peer to Saksham's DotBook and EVO DAISY players, representing the international incumbent that DotBook was specifically designed to undercut on price.

Regional players

• Sense International (India): India arm of a global organization supporting people with deafblindness and multiple disabilities through education and rehabilitation. Comparable to Saksham Resource Centre's deafblind and multiple-disabilities program and an obvious partner/peer in India's special-education landscape.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SakshamTrust
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCFTNnpF0GRb0p1H7gSvESXQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/Saksham-877008862456382
• Instagraminstagram.com/sakshamtrust
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sakshamtrust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saksham