Self-Advocates forum India (SAFI)

• The first National Convention held in 2014 at New Delhi was a grand success with the participation of self-advocates from across India
• The second National Convention held in 2015 at Udaipur, Rajasthan with the participation of one hundred and twelve self-advocates and 75 mentors, parents from 17 states of India. The States represented were: Andhra Pradesh (including Telangana), Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The entire Program was coordinated and conducted by the National Executive Council Headed by:

• Ms. B C Mahalakshmi, President SAFI (Bangalore, Karnataka)
• Mr. G. Parthiban, Secretary, SAFI (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
• Mr. Mahesh Chandrasekhar, Jt. Secretary, (Nagpur, Maharashtra)
• Mr. Kumar Guru, Treasurer, SAFI (Mysore, Karnataka)
• Mr. Shantidev Bera, Invitee, SAFI, Kolkata (Kolkata, West Bengal)
• Mr. Rohit Toshar, EC Member, SAFI, (Bhilai, Chhattisgarh)

SAFI President Ms. Mahalakshmi from Seva-in-Action Bangalore welcomed all the participants to the National Convention. Mr. Parthiban National Secretary gave an overview of Self-Advocates Forum of India (SAFI). The invited guests made brief remarks and offered their felicitations. They gave their best wishes and ideas to how to make SAFI a strong and powerful organization in the future.

• The 5 th National Meet of Self-Advocates of India (SAFI) was inaugurated by the chief guest Shri Thawaarchand Gehlot, Hon Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment. Thereafter the technical sessions for Self-Advocates started in good earnest. They had Annual General Body meeting of SAFI followed by preparation for election.