In For The Cause
In For The Cause works toward a single outcome: ensure that persons with disabilities (PwDs) have the choice, income, and recognition they need to live independently in their own communities. We do this through four interconnected pillars:
Inkin
An ethical marketplace that turns skilled work into income for persons with intellectual disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy and multiple disabilities.
Awareness & Engagement Programs
Experiential workshops and initiatives that shift how disability is understood and valued in workplaces, schools, and communities.
Advisory Services
Accessibility audits (physical, digital & psychological spaces), D&I policy formulation and program audits.
National NGO Recognition Platform
Santosh Jeevani National Award creates recognition and advocacy for outstanding work for self-advocates in the disability sector.
About us
Vision
To raise awareness, respect, and empowerment of persons with disabilities (PwDs) by making them active and valuable members of society.
Missions
To create a more inclusive nation of empowered individuals, families, and social ecosystems.
Our Impact
Producers with a route to their own income through Inkin
Partner NGOs across 5 cities
persons with disabilities reached since 2017, across 18 states
'Socks that make me Happy' distributed
Experiential workshops delivered
Corporate events, 10 corporate partners
Disability Awareness
Why Disability Matters
- Persons with disabilities are the world’s largest minority: about 1.3 billion people, or 16% of the global population, live with disability (WHO).
- India’s Census 2011 recorded 26.8 million persons with disabilities; independent estimates put the figure higher.
- Their participation in work is very low — around 0.4% of India’s workforce — even though the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 reserves 4% of government jobs for persons with disabilities.
Recognized by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act (2016), these include intellectual, developmental, visual, hearing, movement-related, and multiple disabilities.
Our Awareness Tools
- Infographics & storytelling campaigns
- Publications like Twilight’s Children (crowdsourced stories on IDD)
- School & workplace awareness drives
- Digital content explaining each disability in clear, accessible language
How we work
We help persons with disabilities move from dependence toward independent living by enabling them to earn from their own skilled work. This supports the choice, control and community inclusion set out in Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. We do this by:
How We Work
- running Inkin, an online marketplace for products made by persons with disabilities;
- partnering with NGOs, corporates and academic institutions to create steady demand; and
- building awareness so disability-made work is valued on its merit, not bought out of sympathy.
Services and Workshops
Experiential Advocacy
We design workshops and sessions that break bias, build empathy, and create inclusion-first mindsets.
Corporate Workshops
Sensitivity sessions, townhalls, and immersive activities with PwDs.
Canvas of Expression
Collaborative art workshops where employees partner with differently-abled artists to co-create, fostering respect and pride
Mobility of Mind & Body (Kathak-based)
Classical dance, movement, and mindfulness exercises that increase awareness, focus, and productivity
Storytelling for Inclusion
Infographic Campaigns
Customized disability-related visuals for corporate awareness campaigns
Advisory Services
Accessibility Audits (physical & digital spaces)
Job Mapping for inclusive recruitment
Legal Compliance Guidance (Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016)
Expert guidance on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and its implications for organisations.
Marketplace & Corporate Gifting
Inkin is our online marketplace for products made by persons with disabilities. We buy products from partner NGOs upfront, so makers are paid for their work, and present their goods as verified ethical, sustainable products — not charity.
- Self-employment & independence — Inkin gives persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities a route to their own income, and the independence and recognition that come with it.
- Eco-friendly materials — we use sustainable materials such as bamboo, beeswax and recycled paper.
- Made by skilled makers — every item is crafted by persons with disabilities and sold on its merit.
Awareness range: Socks That Make Me Happy support 21 category of disabilities as the disability act of 2016 through a share of each sale.
Mesenipong Pongen awarded the Santosh Jeevani National Award for 2025
Santosh Jeevani National Award, 2025
Mesenipong Pongen has received the Santosh Jeevani National Award for 2025 in a ceremony held on 29 November at Dr. Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University in Lucknow.
The award, instituted in memory of Santosh Gupta and sponsored by her daughter, Madhavi (Founder, IFTC), honours individuals who have made significant contributions towards advancing the lives of persons with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. The award was presented during the 31st National Parents’ Meet of the National Confederation of Parents’ Organizations.
What if every gift you bought for your child could also change someone's life?
I've known Madhavi and her NGO "In for The Cause" for many years now. She's been a tireless advocate and ally for people with disabilities, drawing deeply from her own powerful lived experiences. So when I learned she had started creating and curating products made by individuals with disabilities, I knew I had to support it.
I bought a few items—and not only were they beautiful and high-quality, but they also carried something more. Every time I use them, they bring a smile to my face because I know that my purchase helped someone on their path to independence.
Each product has a story. A story of resilience, grit, and determination. Every person Madhavi works with brings their own journey and strength into what they create.
As the festive season approaches, let's choose gifts that give back. Let's bring joy into our homes—and into someone else's life too.