Leading real estate developer, Akshaya Private Ltd has signed an MoU with Special Child Assistance Network (SCAN), a Chennai-based NGO for SCAN’s Inclusive Housing Initiative in the project Akshaya Today at Kelambakkam. The initiative aims to offer homes at Akshaya Today customised to the needs of people with special needs in a larger inclusive environment. The Akshaya Today project offers a full range of amenities such as a clubhouse, swimming pool, a 2-acre garden with aesthetic walkways as well as several disability friendly features such as railings, ramps, audio announcements and braille-text on elevators.  It is slated for completion by March 2022. 

A unique feature of the SCAN Inclusive Housing initiative at Akshaya Today is the Group Homes that would be managed by SCAN in partnership with Vidya Sagar. These are shared accommodations (co-living) for adults with special needs. The aim is to offer care that is as close as it can get to the care they will get at home, when that option ceases to be available (when parents are too old, for example). The SCAN Group Homes will come with all modern conveniences, appropriate caregiver support for the persons with disability, and managed services for food, housekeeping and maintenance. 

SCAN will also offer a vocational centre with a range of self-employment and supported employment options, and a therapy centre to provide required therapies for persons with special needs as well as all others in the Akshaya Today campus. This enables families with special children or any person with special needs to live life to the fullest of their ability.  

People booking a home in the project Akshaya Today under the Akshaya-SCAN tie-up will become an integral part of a 21-acre mini-township with 2134 homes, and will have options of 1, 2 or 3 BHKs, at preferential prices. In addition, they can get customised modifications, if any, specific to their requirement like wider doors for wheelchair access and customised bathrooms. 

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Chitty Babu, Chairman & CEO of Akshaya said “Akshaya is honoured to be a partner in this first-of-its-kind housing initiative. We have been a pioneer of cutting-edge ideas and have achieved several firsts in the real-estate category. In our 26 years, Akshaya is well-known for offering differently-abled and elder-friendly homes, as well as kids-friendly communities. These initiatives have been well-received and appreciated by homebuyers across different age groups. We have always been in the quest for doing something unique and different in real estate, and SCAN’s Inclusive Living concept has inspired us to prove our mettle once again in this category. With our 26-years expertise in this field, we intend to provide SCAN members with a holistic housing solution supported by various amenities.”  

Speaking on the initiative Mr. Gopinath Ramakrishnan, Managing Trustee of SCAN said: “We are delighted to bring to fruition this initiative, the first of its kind in the country. We embarked on an extensive selection process and zeroed in on Akshaya after wide consultations with our members. The aim of this initiative which has been our dream for many years is true inclusion where families with special needs are a part of the social fabric as equal citizens, supported with services focused on their unique requirements. Even more important than physical accessibility is the psychological accessibility and acceptance by the larger societal networks as a full member of the community. Our partnership with Akshaya is breaking new ground and we hope to extend our collaboration to many more locations.” 

Speaking on the initiative Ms. Poonam Natarajan, Founder of Vidya Sagar said “The inclusive living concept developed by SCAN is an excellent and very doable model. It will manage to create a supportive community for adults with disabilities, without developing an exclusive facility.  I believe that SCAN’s inclusive model, and SCAN’s partnership with Akshaya, will be a pioneering initiative in India.” 

The press meet was attended by actors Ms. Suhasini Maniratnam and Mr. Babloo Prithiveeraj.  Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Suhasini Maniratnam said, “This initiative by Akshaya and SCAN is truly the need of today. This pandemic has taught our society the importance of being together, as well as being inclusive in our approach by accepting different people from various walks of life. This initiative has given me a lot of hope for humanity and for our country and city.” 

Speaking on this unique initiative, Mr. Babloo Prithiveeraj said, “As a father of a special child, my wife and I were concerned about my son’s future after our lifetime. I was on the lookout for the right home that offered inclusive living for some time now, and when I came to know about this initiative by Akshaya and SCAN, I jumped at the opportunity to buy a home at Akshaya Today and give my son an inclusive 5-star lifestyle.” 

A special video byte with a congratulatory message from Actor Revathi for the Akshaya-SCAN initiative was also played out for the press.