Shishu Sarothi
Shishu Sarothi is a Guwahati-based non-profit founded in 1987 that delivers early intervention, inclusive education, vocational training, and disability-rights advocacy to children and persons with disabilities across all eight states of Northeast India through a 52-person team and institutional partnerships.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersGuwahati, India
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Shishu Sarothi does
Shishu Sarothi is a non-profit organization founded in 1987 in Guwahati, Assam, that provides rehabilitation, education, advocacy, and research services for children and persons with disabilities across Northeast India. Founded initially for two children with cerebral palsy by a team including Brinda Crishna, Tondra Borbora, Mira Kagti, and others, the organization has grown into a leading regional institution operating four core service lines: Health (early intervention grounded in neuroplasticity principles serving neonates through young children), Education (Centre for Inclusive Education, ICT Lab, Vocational Training Unit, Inclusive Learning Centres), Awareness & Advocacy (Disability Law Unit with a network of 70+ DPOs across NE India), and Research. The organization operates from its own premises built on government-allotted land in Birubari, Guwahati since 1997, with a team of approximately 52 staff and a presence spanning all 8 states of Northeast India through centre-based services, hospital collaboration with Assam Medical College Hospital (Dibrugarh), fortnightly/quarterly outreach in 5+ districts, and 21 SSA schools in Karbi Anglong and Kamrup Metro.
Its proprietary service methodologies include the F-Words Framework (Function, Fitness, Family, Friends, Fun, Future) for family-centered neuroplasticity-based intervention, play-based and child-led therapy approaches, and Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBID) field models. Specialized sub-programs include the SPARSH Regional Centre for deafblind and multi-sensory impaired persons, the Indus Towers Scholarship Program (Phase 1: 198 scholars; Phase 2: targeting 600), the English Access Micro-scholarship Program with US Consulate support, and a Training Department approved by the Rehabilitation Council of India offering diploma courses in collaboration with IGNOU and NEHU.
The organization generates revenue through three streams: individual and institutional donations via its website donation portal (sponsorship tiers at INR 2,000-2,500/month), government grants and partnerships (Social Welfare Department Assam, Rehabilitation Council of India), and corporate CSR/foundation funding from major institutional partners including Azim Premji Foundation, Indus Towers, Wipro Foundation, Light for the World International, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, and Sense International India. Services are provided free of cost to beneficiaries. It is registered under the Societies Registration Act, holds FCRA registration for foreign contributions, and maintains 80G tax exemption status renewed in February 2026.
Shishu Sarothi firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Shishu Sarothi
- Legal name
- Shishu Sarothi
- Website
- https://shishusarothi.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Shishu Sarothi is a Guwahati-based non-profit founded in 1987 that delivers early intervention, inclusive education, vocational training, and disability-rights advocacy to children and persons with disabilities across all eight states of Northeast India through a 52-person team and institutional partnerships.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Shishu Sarothi industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Disability Rehabilitation and Inclusive Education Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Child and Youth Services (624110), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (624310)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Specialized Instruction & Resource Support (Inclusion, Pull-Out, Co-Teaching) (EDAJAKAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Related Therapy Services (Speech, Occupational, Physical, Feeding) (EDAJAKAD), Injury Prevention, Disability & Rehabilitation Programs (BPADAIAM), Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC)
Keywords
Where Shishu Sarothi is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Guwahati
- HQ country
- India
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Shishu Sarothi business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and institutional donations collected through website donation portal supporting education sponsorship (Rs. 2,500/month), therapy sponsorship (Rs. 2,000/month), vocational training, and general/corpus funds
- Government Grants and Partnerships: Support from government bodies including Social Welfare Department, Rehabilitation Council of India, and various state-level programs for awareness generation and disability services
- Corporate CSR and Foundation Funding: Funding from Azim Premji Foundation (CIE), Indus Towers (scholarships), Wipro Foundation (inclusive education), Light for the World International, Paul Hamlyn Foundation (research), and Sense International India (SPARSH program)
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Monthly | Education Sponsorship - Rs. 2,500/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Therapy Sponsorship - Rs. 2,000/month |
| Subscription | Monthly | Vocational Training Support |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | General Fund - Rs. 250 minimum |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Corpus Fund - Rs. 500 minimum |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Shishu Sarothi product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Shishu Sarothi delivers free-of-cost rehabilitation, inclusive education, therapy, and vocational training services to children and persons with disabilities across Assam and Northeast India through four pillars — Health (early intervention), Education (Centre for Inclusive Education), Awareness & Advocacy (Disability Law Unit), and Research. Supporting offerings include the ICT Lab, Vocational Training Unit, SPARSH Deafblind Regional Centre, Indus Towers Scholarship Program for higher education, and CBID community-based services in rural and semi-urban districts.
Product overview
Shishu Sarothi is a non-profit organization providing rehabilitation and training services for children and persons with disabilities in Assam and Northeast India. The organization operates an integrated service model centered around four core thematic areas: Early Intervention services reaching thousands of children with developmental disabilities, a Centre for Inclusive Education (CIE) offering individualized education programs with specialized units, a Disability Law Unit for rights advocacy, and a Research and Documentation division. Supporting services include an ICT Laboratory, Vocational Training Unit, SPARSH Deafblind Regional Centre, Training Department for professional capacity building, and scholarship programs for higher education. The organization also operates outreach programs in underserved communities across multiple districts. Services follow a twin-track approach combining direct service delivery with rights realization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Shishu Sarothi Centre for Rehabilitation and Training for Multiple Disability: Full organization name as used in official certifications and badges
- Centre for Inclusive Education (CIE)
- Early Intervention Unit
- SPARSH Program
- Disability Law Unit
- Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBID)
Products and services
- Early Intervention Services Neuroplasticity-based early intervention services for neonates, infants, high-risk babies, and young children with developmental delays and disabilities. Delivered through family-centered screening, assessment, counseling, and therapies (physiotherapy, speech therapy, play-based and home management programmes).
- Community-Based Inclusive Development (CBID) Program Field-based programme addressing unmet needs of children and persons with disabilities from marginalized communities in rural and semi-urban areas of Goalpara, Morigaon, Kamrup and Kamrup (M) districts. Includes PwD identification, documentation assistance (UDID, Aadhaar, RBSK, Pension), school and Anganwadi admissions, counseling, and awareness programmes.
- Centre for Inclusive Education (CIE) Educational centre catering to approximately 150 children with and without disabilities, offering individualized education programmes, therapies, and inclusive learning through units including Playgroup, Special Teaching Unit, Leisure Learning Unit, Functional Academic Unit, and ASD/ADHD Unit. Supported by Azim Premji Foundation.
- Information and Communication Technology Laboratory (ICT Lab) Computer training facility providing comprehensive ICT skills development for children with disabilities using adaptive facilities and specialized software. Doubles as a vocational skill-training unit for older students.
- Vocational Training Unit Vocational training for students with developmental disabilities past age 18 in a sheltered workshop setting. Training covers paper craft, bag making, printing, costume jewellery, beading, gardening, and computer skills.
- SPARSH Program and Deafblind Regional Centre (DbRC) Regional centre for deafblind and multi-sensory impaired persons providing life-span support including screening, detection, orientation and mobility training, medical and nutritional support, educational inputs, and assistive device access. Operates across 2 districts of Assam covering approximately 60 persons, supported by Sense International India.
- Training Department (RCI Approved) Approved training institution of Rehabilitation Council of India offering Diploma in Special Education for Multiple Disability, Community Based Inclusive Education course, and distance-mode programmes in collaboration with IGNOU and NEHU for hundreds of candidates from across NE India.
- Indus Towers Scholarship Program Higher education scholarship programme for students with disabilities in NE India, with Phase 1 reaching 198 students and Phase 2 targeting 600 students across NE and beyond through a transparent online process at ssscholarship.org.
- English Access Micro-scholarship Program English language skills training for young adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds delivered through weekend sessions, supported by the US Consulate Kolkata and American Centre. The 1st batch trained 55 young people at Shishu Sarothi and Shillong between 2018-2021.
- Disability Law Unit (DLU) Legal awareness and advocacy service that has reached 50,000+ stakeholders through awareness programmes, supports a 70+ DPO network across NE India, conducts 40-50 pro bono litigations and PILs, and provides grievance redressal and training for bureaucrats and civil service officials.
- Research and Documentation Studies Research studies that create empirical evidence on disability issues, including the SDG Disability Tracker (with VSO and DFID), the "Unaware Untapped and Underserved - 2022" study (Paul Hamlyn Foundation), and the 2012 employment-needs assessment in Assam and Meghalaya.
- RPwD Act Information Portal Dedicated mini website providing rights-related information under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016, alongside a large IEC collection of pamphlets, video films, and radio spots.
Quantifiable outcome
- 6,252 children reached through Early Intervention services (2022-to date)
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use Shishu Sarothi
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Shishu Sarothi technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Shishu Sarothi partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and secondary.
- Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (formerly Spastics Society of Eastern India), KolkatacoreProvided initial training, technical support and guidance in early years to offer holistic services for children with cerebral palsy and associated multiple disabilities. Shishu Sarothi's founding team received mentorship and capacity building from this premier disability institution.
- Azim Premji FoundationcoreSupports Centre For Inclusive Education (CIE) - the core service catering to educational needs of children with and without disabilities. Foundation funding enables operation of multiple educational units and trained professionals.
- Indus Towers (formerly Bharti Infratel) LimitedcoreSupports Indus Towers Scholarship Program bridging gap in higher education among persons with disability. Phase 1 reached 198 students from NE India. Phase 2 proposes to reach 600 students through transparent online process via www.ssscholarship.org.
- Wipro FoundationcoreSupports inclusive education projects in partnership with Light for the World International. Currently working through 21 schools in Karbi Anglong and Kamrup Metro districts to build teacher capacities using Universal Design of Learning strategies.
- Light for the World InternationalcoreSupports RAISE-NE project to promote and improve quality of inclusive education in SSA schools in NE India. Previously supported SDG Tracker studies and disability employment initiatives.
- Sense International IndiacoreSupports SPARSH program for Deafblind and Multi-Sensory Impaired persons, upgraded to Regional Centre for deafblindness in North East. Life span approach covering screening, detection, interventions, and support services for approximately 60 persons.
- US Consulate Kolkata and American CentresecondarySupports English Access Micro-scholarship Program teaching English language skills to young adolescents from difficult backgrounds. Trained 55 young people in 1st batch at Shishu Sarothi and Shillong between 2018-2021.
- Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO)secondarySupported SDG Disability Tracker II Study in 2019, part of Disability Tracking initiative in relation to UN SDG 5, 6 and 8. Study aided by Department of International Development (DFID) UK.
- Centre for Disability Studies & Action and ATLMRIsecondaryCollaboration for 2012 study on 'Assessment of Employment Needs of Persons with Disability' in Assam and Meghalaya, supported by Light for the World International.
- Assam Medical College Hospital (AMCH), DibrugarhcoreEarly intervention services provided regularly from Paediatrics Department, extending services to eastern districts of Assam. 605 children reached in 2024-25 through this collaboration.
- Rehabilitation Council of IndiacoreLed Zonal Coordination Committee for NE India. Approved Training Institution to run Diploma in Sp.Ed for Multiple Disability course and Community Based Inclusive Education course. Study Centre for distance mode programs of IGNOU and NEHU.
- National TrustsecondaryPreviously served as State Nodal Agency Centre for the National Trust in the past. Continues to be active member of National Disability Network and other national-level advocacy bodies.
- Social Welfare Department, Govt. of AssamcoreTasked to conduct massive state-wide Awareness Generation Program in 2019 through zonal and district-level meetings with government officials, civil society, and persons with disabilities. Contributed to drafting State Rules for implementation of RPwD Act 2016.
- Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and North Eastern Hill University (NEHU)secondaryStudy Centre for disability specific training programs in distance mode conducting courses such as Foundation Course, B.Ed (SE) and PGPD courses and Parent Training programs for hundreds of candidates from across NE India.
Scale indicators16 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Shishu Sarothi competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sense International India: Active funder and partner of Shishu Sarothi for the SPARSH/Deafblind Regional Centre program. Operates similar lifespan services for deafblind and multi-sensory impaired persons across India, making it a closely comparable specialty peer.
- National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP): Leading pan-India disability rights and employment advocacy organization with similar disability law, rights awareness, and employer engagement work to Shishu Sarothi's Disability Law Unit. Comparable in advocacy and stakeholder mobilization but operates at national rather than regional scale.
- Spastics Society of India / ADAPT (Mumbai): One of India's oldest disability NGOs offering comprehensive lifespan services (early intervention, education, vocational training, advocacy) for persons with cerebral palsy and developmental disabilities. Directly comparable service model to Shishu Sarothi with a stronger urban footprint.
- Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (IICP): Formerly Spastics Society of Eastern India, Kolkata. Provided initial training and mentorship to Shishu Sarothi in 1987 and remains the premier cerebral palsy and multiple disability institution in eastern India with comparable service mix (early intervention, education, therapy, advocacy).
- Multiple Action Research Group (MARG): Mumbai-based NGO working on disability rights, inclusive education, and livelihood for persons with disabilities. Comparable program mix spanning rights advocacy, education, and economic inclusion for marginalized disability populations.
Broad incumbents
- National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities: Statutory body under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment that supports similar populations (autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities). Comparable mandate but operates as a national apex body rather than a direct service provider; Shishu Sarothi previously served as its State Nodal Agency Centre.
- Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI): Statutory body for training and regulation of disability professionals. Shishu Sarothi is an approved RCI training institution and led its Zonal Coordination Committee. Comparable in setting standards and accreditation for special education and rehabilitation training across India.
- National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID): Autonomous national institute under the Ministry of Social Justice offering training, rehabilitation, and services for persons with intellectual disabilities. Comparable mandate in special education and rehabilitation, with similar target population to Shishu Sarothi's CIE and EI units.
Regional players
- Amar Seva Sangam: Tamil Nadu-based integrated disability services and rehabilitation organization offering similar comprehensive disability services (early intervention, special education, vocational training, community-based rehabilitation) but serving southern India rather than competing in the NE region.
Emerging players
- Blind People's Association (BPA), Ahmedabad: Comprehensive disability NGO offering education, rehabilitation, vocational training, and advocacy across multiple disability categories. Comparable lifespan approach and integrated service model, with stronger focus on vision impairment.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Shishu Sarothi social profiles
Digital presenceShishu Sarothi financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Shishu Sarothi leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
Shishu Sarothi funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Shishu Sarothi M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Shishu Sarothi
What does Shishu Sarothi do?
Shishu Sarothi delivers free-of-cost rehabilitation, inclusive education, therapy, and vocational training services to children and persons with disabilities across Assam and Northeast India through four pillars — Health (early intervention), Education (Centre for Inclusive Education), Awareness & Advocacy (Disability Law Unit), and Research. Supporting offerings include the ICT Lab, Vocational Training Unit, SPARSH Deafblind Regional Centre, Indus Towers Scholarship Program for higher education, and CBID community-based services in rural and semi-urban districts.
Is Shishu Sarothi a public or private company?
Shishu Sarothi is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Shishu Sarothi founded?
Shishu Sarothi was founded in 1987. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Shishu Sarothi based?
Shishu Sarothi is headquartered in Guwahati, India, in the Asia region.
How does Shishu Sarothi make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Donations and Charitable Contributions are the primary driver. The others are government Grants and Partnerships and corporate CSR and Foundation Funding.
Who are Shishu Sarothi's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sense International India, National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), Spastics Society of India / ADAPT (Mumbai), Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (IICP) and Multiple Action Research Group (MARG). Broad incumbents are National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities, Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI) and National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID). Amar Seva Sangam is listed as a regional player. Blind People's Association (BPA), Ahmedabad is listed as an emerging player.
Does Shishu Sarothi have an API?
No public API is recorded for Shishu Sarothi.
What industry is Shishu Sarothi in?
Shishu Sarothi's product category is Disability Rehabilitation and Inclusive Education Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJAKAC, Specialized Instruction & Resource Support (Inclusion, Pull-Out, Co-Teaching), with a secondary code of EDAJAKAD, Related Therapy Services (Speech, Occupational, Physical, Feeding). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.