Kanubhai Hasmukhbhai Tailor | |
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| Born | (1956-05-17)17 May 1956 (age 69) Adas,Kheda, Gujarat, India |
| Occupation | Social worker |
| Awards | Oscar award Gujarat Gaurav Award Godfrey Phillips Bravery National Award |
| Website | http://www.disableindia.org |
Kanubhai Hasmukhbhai Tailor is an Indian[1] social worker who is physically disabled. He is fromGujarat and the founder of thenon governmental organization,Disable Welfare Trust of India,[2] working towards the upliftment of physically disabled people.[3] TheGovernment of India honoured Tailor in 2011, with the fourth highest civilian award ofPadma Shri.[4]
Kanubhai Hasmukhbhai Tailor was born on 17 May 1956 in a small village of Adas, in theKheda district of the Indian state Gujarat, in a family with meagre financial resources.[5] While doing his early schooling, Kanubhai contractedPoliomyelitis due to which he had the permanent disability in both his legs.[6][7][8] However, he continued his studies and graduated from the Shree Sahajanand Arts and Commerce College in Ahmedabad.[5]
Kanubhai began his social life with ahunger strike in 1979 for free travel facilities for the disabled people. After eleven days of strike, theGovernment of Gujarat allowed free travel to physically disabled people. Soon, he moved toSurat and started a small printing press, operating out of his house. In 1991, Kanubhai founded theDisable Welfare Trust of India for the welfare of the disabled people in the fields of education, vocational training and rehabilitation.[6][7][8] The Trust has over the years grown to house a school, physiotherapy centre, vocational training centre, boys and girls hostels and a rehabilitation centre, covering 400 children.[6][9][10]
During the period he was running the printing press, Kanubhai was honored by theGovernment of Gujarat with the award of the Best Employer.[5] He has also received theGujarat Gaurav award from the government.[5] TheGovernment of India included Kanubhai in theRepublic Day honours list, in 2011, for thePadma Shri.[4] This was followed by the Godfrey Phillips Bravery National Award, which he received in 2013.[5][6][10] Tailor received theLifetime Achievement Award at theAhmedabad International Film Festival.