Neha Arora, is the founder of Planet Abled, which provides accessible travel solutions for people with disabilities. She worked with companies like HCL, Nokia & Adobe before taking the plunge to start Planet Abled.
Born to parents with disabilities she experienced challenges in travelling. One such experience, became the tipping point for her to leave her career and start the inclusive travel journey based on Universal Design Concept, a first of its kind in the world.
Neha is a graduate of Nasdaq Entrepreneurial centre MMI program and recipient of India Inclusion Summit fellowship for her work at Planet Abled.
Neha also conducts sessions and workshops in corporate and various forums for amalgamation of people with disabilities in mainstream via the medium of travel .”
Here’s her 15 Questions in 5 Minutes:
1. Who you are (naturally!)
Human, a weird human!
2. What inspired you to create your business?
Years of struggling and Innumerable fights with insensitive people and inaccessible systems which don’t give a thought about the needs of people with disabilities and stick to their age old traditions and practices which no longer serve any purpose.
3. An anecdote which epitomises your India?
A country where people are not divided based on caste and religion and life choices. Everyone respects each others choices and agrees to disagree respectfully. ( I know its too much to ask but dont you think how cool that would be 
)
4. One thing that you can’t live without?
Breathing.
5. One thing that you hate?
Hypocrisy.
6. If you could change one thing about India what would it be?
Make everything accessible for all., be it built environment, technology or services.
7. Who is your greatest inspiration?
My parents.
8. What is your favourite quote?
Don’t wait for the storms to pass, learn how to dance in the rain.
9. I have noticed huge changes in India over the last few years but what is the biggest change you have noticed in India over the last 10 years?
People taking problems by hand and creating initiatives and innovative solutions to solve those problems. The entrepreneurship ecosystem has developed hugely for the better.
10. What do you think are the biggest challenges India faces over the next ten years?
Inequality in terms of access to services, places, products, healthcare and education and divide on the basis of religion.
11. Which is the destination at the top of your bucket list?
A road trip to Leh, Ladakh.
12. What is the one place you visited that you have NO desire to return to?
Gorakhpur
13. Book or Movie?
Book
14. Just for fun! I am doing a survey to find India’s most popular breakfast, what is yours?
Bedai, which you get only in Agra no where else.
15. In retrospect, what is the one thing you wish you could have told your 20 year old self?
Drop out of college now, give up your second thoughts and don’t care about the consequences.
You can find out more about Planet Abled at www.planetabled.com
