This Sunday at i-Hub Bhubaneswar, the energy in the room wasn’t just about “innovation” in the corporate sense — it was about breaking barriers. It was about watching the impossible become possible, and seeing dreams transform into reality. As I sat among students who had traveled from every corner of Odisha, I was reminded of the core purpose that drives us at Aveti Learning. At the heart of our work is the vision to “scale impact,” but on February 1st, the impact was personal, it was human, and it had a face.
I was introduced to this idea by Mr. Kirtan Behera, who resides in the US but has never forgotten his humble beginnings in Keonjhar. His passion and deep commitment for education for visually impaired students led us to design a project dedicated to supporting VI students in Odisha. We are grateful to Kirtan Behera for inspiring this meaningful initiative.
A Bridge from California to Odisha
The event was organised by Arundhati Dash and Prasant Behera, founders of Promise a Future (PAF), whose tireless dedication has changed the landscape for VI students in our state. From their humble beginnings in California, they’ve been working quietly but profoundly, creating opportunities where there were none.
Arundhati’s reflection on their journey resonated deeply with me:
“This isn’t a solo journey. I have been committed to this cause for years, and I’m deeply grateful to have found partners like Prafulla Rout Sir and many others who have stood by us to make this vision a reality.”
Her words were a powerful reminder that every great change is driven by a team — by people who believe in the same cause and work together to make it happen.
Prasant, with his characteristic humility, shared the simple yet profound reason for their work:
“We started PAF with one purpose: to change lives. If one child gets an opportunity and helps ten others, that’s how we truly spread light. That’s the PAF way.”
The Living Proof: From Students to Leaders
But we weren’t just talking about potential; we were sitting next to it. Bhagirathi Bal, a 2022 batch OAS officer now serving as the Deputy Director at JDA, Keonjhar, and Debasish Panda, who recently qualified for OPSC, were living examples of what is possible for visually impaired students.
Their stories weren’t just about success — they were about overcoming challenges. Both Bhagirathi and Debasish shared an important insight:
“One of the biggest challenges we face is the lack of a robust and natural Odia Text-to-Speech (TTS) system. For a visually impaired student, a quality TTS system isn’t a luxury; it’s a lifeline. It’s the key to textbooks, literature, and competitive exams.”
This struck a chord with us at Aveti Learning, as we know that technology can bridge gaps, and we are committed to making sure that “disability” doesn’t mean “lack of access.”
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Aveti’s Commitment: Beyond Code and Content
At Aveti Learning, we firmly believe that no student should be held back because of their disability. That’s why we are leveraging Artificial Intelligence to build tools that empower VI students — not just to get by, but to thrive. We want them to gain vocational skills, read any book they choose, and pass the toughest exams in the country.
This entire initiative is fueled by the unwavering vision of one individual — Mr. Kirtan Behera. His steadfast commitment and foresight have been the driving force behind designing technology and AI solutions for the visually impaired. With the support of the Behera Charity Foundation, we are developing an app that will empower VI students to enhance their communication skills and become job-ready. Our goal is to make a lasting contribution to the community, with thousands set to benefit from this transformative initiative.
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Mr. Kirtan Behera, the driving force behind the initiative
Launching “Join Vocal”
One of the highlights of the event was the demo-launch of vocal.avetilearning.com, our AI-powered portal designed to bridge the communication gap for VI students. During a small, hands-on workshop, students like Abinash, Anand, Mithun, and Lopamuda were onboarded onto the portal. Guided by the tireless Sushant Swain and Monalisha, they practiced speaking in English in real-time. Watching them engage with the platform and improve their communication skills was nothing short of inspiring.
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A Call to Action: Let’s Scale Dignity
To our friends in the donor community and fellow High Net-worth Individuals (HNIs), I extend a heartfelt invitation to scale dignity. What PAF and Aveti are building together is not a charity — it’s an infrastructure for talent.
When you support this cause, you’re not just buying a screen reader or funding a workshop. You’re investing in the next Bhagirathi Bal or Debasish Panda. You’re ensuring that a brilliant mind in a rural village doesn’t get left behind simply because they cannot see a printed page.
The technology is ready. The implementation pipeline, through our trusted partners like Jagannath Welfare Committee, Trilochan Netralay, and IASF, is proven. We have the roadmap; we now need the fuel to reach every single visually impaired student in Odisha and beyond.
Let’s build a future where “vision” is not limited to what we can see, but is defined by what we can achieve together.
The journey is just beginning, and together, we will go far.