Mahantesh Ghathivalappa Kivadasannavar

A blue gradient background with navy text has “The D-30 Disability Impact List” at the top centered above “2023 Honoree” which is in between two laurels. The words “Mahantesh Ghathivalappa Kivadesannavar, India” are to the left of a picture of Mahantesh, which fills the right. At the bottom, “Diversability, #D30DisList.” fills the left corner.

Mahantesh Ghathivalappa Kivadasannavar (He/him/his)

Chairperson, Founder and Managing Trustee of Samarthanam International 

India

Mahantesh Ghathivalappa Kivadasannavar is the Founder-Chairman of Samarthanam International, an organization that he founded along with his blind friends. 

Mahantesh is a role model for thousands of persons with disabilities and other underserved sections of society. He has reached over 300,000 lives within a short span of 25 years and created smiles on their faces. The seed sown by him 25 years ago became a huge and strong banyan tree that has given shelter to thousands of lives who had lost their hopes for the future. He is an effective leader, strategist, visionary, thinker, man of foresight and has courage of conviction.

Over the past year, he has conducted over 94 job fairs in partnership with over 500 corporate agencies.  This resulted in over 10,000 persons with disabilities gaining employment opportunities across sectors, and earning their livelihood and living a life with dignity.