Matribhumi Samachar English
New Delhi, December 19, 2025: CBM India Trust, a leading not-for-profit organization committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities and other marginalized communities, was honored with the Best Aid for Sports Initiative of the Year award at the Indian Social Impact Awards 2025 for its Para Athletes Support Program, which focuses on strengthening access and support for athletes with disabilities across India.
The Indian Social Impact Awards, organized by Brand Honchos, is an initiative of Indian CSR Awards and recognizes organizations and leaders contributing to social impact across sectors such as education, healthcare, women empowerment, sports, and skill development. The award acknowledges CBM India’s continued involvement in inclusive sports development in India, reflecting decades of work to expand opportunities for persons with disabilities in sports and all spheres of life.
CBM India’s Para Athletes Support Program provides tailored support to sportspersons, covering costs such as specialized equipment, coaching fees, nutrition, travel, and participation in competitive events. The initiative is designed to reduce financial and logistical barriers that often limit the progression of Para athletes, particularly those from low-income backgrounds and underrepresented regions.
Over the years, Para athletes supported by CBM India have won medals in state, national, and international competitions. These achievements highlight the potential of Para athletes and Para sports and serve to shift public perception around disability.
Commenting on the recognition, Sony Thomas, Executive Director, CBM India, said, “We’re honored to receive this award. Para sports matters because it shows persons with disabilities that sports can be a career, a path worth pursuing. For society, it pushes back against stereotypes about persons with disabilities. Our program exists to ensure more athletes have the support to train and compete, and we hope this recognition brings more attention to Para sports in India. We share this with the athletes we work with.”
This award also underscores the role CSR can play. CBM India’s Para Athletes Support Program is made possible through a corporate partnership, a model that shows what’s achievable when corporates invest in initiatives that support persons with disabilities, in sports and beyond. For companies looking to make a meaningful difference, inclusion is a space worth considering.
About CBM India Trust:
CBM India Trust is a leading not-for-profit development organization committed to improving the quality of life of persons with disabilities and other marginalized communities. They work alongside persons with disabilities, their representative organizations, community-based organizations, institutions, and the government to remove cultural and environmental barriers to people with disabilities’ full participation in health, education, and livelihood opportunities. CBM India aspires to create an inclusive society in which persons with disabilities achieve their full potential. In 2024-25, they reached over 20.6 lakh people in 17 states and union territories across India. To know more about CBM India, visit www.cbmindia.org
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