'Reliance Foundation Is the Light in My Candles'

Bhavesh Bhatia, Candlemaker, Mahabaleshwar

• Bhavesh Bhatia, a visually-impaired person, had a small candle-making business. A chance meeting with Smt Nita Ambani in 2008 changed that. Today, Sunrise Candles is a thriving small scale enterprise in Mahabaleshwar employing 230 visually challenged persons. “Earlier also we were making candles using our ten-ten eyes (fingers) god has gifted, but Reliance Foundation and Smt Nita Ambani have literally put light in those candles, or shall I say lit our lives. The Foundation has introduced us to the world and we are now a business that supports 250 families of visually-challenged individuals. That’s a matter of great pride. None of this could have happened without the support of Reliance Foundation."