This Independence Day, Hyderabad NGO TGTF turns celebration into cause
HYDERABAD: For the first time in seven years, Hyderabad-based non-governmental organization (NGO) The Good Talk Factory (TGTF) will host Akan Aahvaanam, on August 15. This marks TGTF’s first public fundraising drive to amplify fundraising for accessibility, autism support, and children’s education.
Akan Aahvaanam 2026 will happen from 12 PM to 4 or 5 PM at Akan Hyderabad, Madhapur. The event will include food, music, art, and community activities. The theme is “Celebrate Freedom. Share a Meal. Make a Difference.”
Every year on Independence Day, Akan organizes an event to champion one NGO working for social impact. The restaurant provides its space and hosts a “Pay As You Please” lunch. Guests contribute as they wish during the five-hour event. All money from guests supports the chosen cause. Speaking to HyderabadMail, TGTF founder Raghu Duth Degala said Akan launched this tradition two years ago. The event empowers grassroots NGOs, who often struggle to attract corporate or CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) funding, to raise funds and increase visibility. This year, the format changes. TGTF will not just be a guest, TGTF will design and direct the event as a partner. For the first time in three years, the fundraiser empowers a group to run the event. TGTF brands this as its first public fundraising drive.
Akan Aahvaanam 2026 to support three causes
Guests at Aahvaanam 2026 can select one of three main causes to support. For instance, they can contribute to Accessibility and Inclusion, which enables people with and without disabilities to participate fully in community events and activities. Alternatively, they can support Autism Therapy Support, which provides children with access to therapy, regardless of their family’s income. Finally, they can choose TGTF Vidya, which pays school fees and helps children from economically disadvantaged families stay in school.
Raghu said TGTF focuses on supporting children with autism because of his own experience working with people on the autism spectrum. He explained that families with higher incomes can often access private therapy and early intervention. But low-income families, like those of auto-rickshaw drivers, cannot afford the multiple therapies a child may need. These children may not receive all the support required for healthy development. TGTF’s model allows families to pay what they can, and TGTF subsidizes the remaining costs.
From sensory experiences to art
Event organizers designed Aahvaanam so people can engage directly with the cause. Specifically, the first floor has an “Experience Center” featuring highlights from TGTF’s seven-year journey. The center displays videos and media stories. In addition, organizers set up donation counters and stage performances by children with autism. The second floor offers interactive activities. For instance, TGTF built a Sensory Space in collaboration with the Rising Sun Child Development Centre. This space allows visitors to experience what sensory processing differences and neurodivergence can feel like. Lastly, Hyderabad artist and art educator Bhamini Shree will lead an art session on mental health. This session supports caregivers of children with disabilities.
“We didn’t want to just raise awareness and leave. We wanted people to see what we do, experience it, and then help fund it,” said Raghu.
Raghu said picking Independence Day for the event was a personal choice. “Every year on Independence Day, we still face big challenges in the disability community. People only call us an inspiration on days like December 3rd, World Disability Day. I want to change that. Real independence is about how you treat others. When you include everyone, that’s the real celebration of independence for us,” he said.
From a storytelling group to a social impact organization
TGTF started on December 15, 2018, and became a registered Trust in 2023. It began as a storytelling group with the belief that everyone has a story worth sharing. Further, Raghu said someone once asked him to prove he was famous before sharing a story. That pushed him to build a platform that values honesty over fame.
Since then, TGTF has expanded into a social impact organization that advances inclusive education, disability inclusion, accessibility, and community engagement. TGTF Vidya has covered tuition fees for nearly 30 children and has supported over 100 students with life skills training. The Purple Solvathon is an innovation challenge focused on accessibility solutions. It has featured at major events such as Pune’s Purple Jallosh and Goa’s International Purple Fest. TGTF also launched the Kaleido Carnival, which is Hyderabad’s first fully inclusive festival, and Khelathon, the city’s first inclusive running event. Other initiatives include Taare Zameen Par, Mrid Katha, and Elderly Tales.
TGTF says volunteers operate the organization. A core team of five trustees provides leadership. Meanwhile, Student and professional volunteers, who range in age from 12 to 65, also support the team. In 2026, TGTF registered under the CSR-1 framework. This step will help TGTF form more effective and sustainable partnerships moving forward.
Raghu said he wants TGTF to keep going without him. “I don’t want TGTF to exist only while I do. I want it to create Samaritans. I want people to have a spirit of service for life, even if they are not in an NGO,” he said.
What to expect at Akan Aahvaanam 2026
Guests at the event include Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Principal Secretary of Telangana, and Anumula Shashank, head of Café Niloufer. Actor Geetha Bhascker will attend, along with other well-known people from Hyderabad’s business, cinema, and civic groups.
Guests can join a “Pay As You Please” community lunch. They can enjoy live music and join art activities. They can visit the sensory zone. Guests can give donations to accessibility and inclusion, autism therapy support, or TGTF Vidya’s education program.
