Bangalore, Apr 7: Tata Power marked World Autism Awareness Day through a day-long inclusive celebration under its flagship ‘Pay Autention’ initiative, in collaboration with the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID). Held at the Trombay Community Hall in Chembur, the event marked the launch of a month-long series of initiatives focused on advancing autism awareness and inclusion.
The engagement brought together over 300 participants, including neurodiverse individuals, caregivers, NGO partners, and experts—underscoring Tata Power’s commitment to strengthening support systems for the neurodiversity community. Since its inception in 2022, ‘Pay Autention’ has impacted over 45,000 + families across India.
At the core of this initiative is a growing support ecosystem that goes beyond awareness to enable access, build caregiver capacity, and foster institutional partnerships. A key pillar is the E-Sanidhya portal—a digital platform offering free access to expert-led resources, remote screening, consultations, and guidance for caregivers across geographies. Developed in partnership with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Tata Elxsi, the platform supports over 14,000 users and enables early identification and intervention, particularly in underserved regions.
Further strengthening access, Tata Power operates a dedicated toll-free autism helpline (1800 2099 488), providing timely, inclusive, and professional guidance to parents, caregivers, educators, and community workers.
The Trombay engagement reflected this commitment through a thoughtfully curated programme featuring cultural performances by neurodiverse individuals, along with dance movement and yoga-based therapeutic sessions. A sensory room and experiential zones—with activities such as stone painting, tactile and mandala art, and LEGO-based play therapy—enabled children to explore and express themselves, while offering caregivers and practitioners exposure to diverse developmental approaches.
The event was attended by senior leaders from Tata Power, including Mr. Himal Tewari, CHRO & Chief – Sustainability & CSR; Mr. Pankaj Kumar Singh, Chief – Community Impact (Generation, T&D & Renewables); Ms. Mamta Malpani Saboo, Head – Business HR (CF&I) & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Ms. Anupama Ratta, Chief – Human Resources & ES&A (Renewables); and Ms. Foram Nagori, Head – CSR Programmes, Governance & Alliances.
They were joined by sector experts including Dr. Ravi Prakash Singh, Officer In-charge, NIEPID; Mr. Sameer Rawal, Mentor, TCS Digital Impact Square; and Cdr. Shrirang Bijur, President, Parivaar AWMH. Representatives from Tata Group companies—TCS, TajSATS, and Tata ClassEdge—as well as officials from NIEPID were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Himal Tewari said:
“Through our experiences, we have realised that for families navigating autism, the biggest challenge is not just awareness, but access. Access to the right information, timely diagnosis, and sustained support. Bridging these gaps requires more than awareness. It calls for building systems that are accessible, inclusive, and continuous. At Tata Power, Pay Autention is a one-of-a-kind effort to create that continuum through partnerships with institutions like NIEPID and platforms such as E Sanidhya that bring early screening, expert guidance, and caregiver support closer to those who need it most. As we scale ahead, our focus is on using technology and partnerships to take this support deeper into communities, especially underserved regions, so that inclusion becomes a dependable, everyday reality for every family.”
Building on this momentum, Tata Power announced the next phase of ‘Pay Autention’, including multilingual expansion of the E-Sanidhya platform in Hindi, Odia, Tamil, Marathi, and Telugu to improve accessibility. The company will also scale its play-based learning programme using the Six Bricks methodology by the LEGO Foundation, in partnership with Sunday Bricks, through caregiver masterclasses and Training of Trainers programmes.
As part of its awareness efforts, Tata Power illuminated offices in Carnac, Mahalaxmi, and Borivali, along with key locations in Odisha and Delhi, in blue—a global symbol of autism awareness—promoting solidarity and public engagement.
In Tamil Nadu, the company marked the day through curated engagements in collaboration with the Commissionerate for Welfare of the Differently Abled under the TN Rights Project. The Chennai programme saw participation from over 300 attendees, including senior government officials, and featured performances, workshops, and creative activities—fostering awareness, creativity, and community participation.
Through ‘Pay Autention’, Tata Power continues to advance its commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion by building scalable, collaborative models that strengthen long-term support systems for the neurodiversity community.
