NFB Cover Final CTP.cdr - National Federation of Blind

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Regd. No. 4866

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND (Affiliated to World Blind Union) Karnataka State Branch

#S-373, Bharat Nagar 2nd Phase, Near Karnataka Bank, Magadi Main Road Bangalore - 560091

Souvenir

13th Anniversary 4th January 2018

Email: [email protected] Ph. No: 080-23484794

Mob: 9916368800 / 8197900171

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Published by : National Federation of the Blind © Copyright : National Federation of the Blind

Chief Editor : Goutham Agarwal General Secretary NFB, Karnataka

Editor : Prasanna Udipikar HOD of English VVN Degree College, Bangalore

Printed at : Omkar Offset Printers Nm. 3/4, 1st Main Road, New Tharagupet, Bangalore - 560 002 Telefax : + 91 080 2670 8186 / 87, 2670 9026 E-mail : [email protected] Website : www.omkaroffset.com

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Contents ....

Editorial

Message from President of NFB

Acknowledgment

Messages

1. National Federation of the Blind Karnataka (Voice of the Blind)

2. National Federation of the Blind (Karnataka) - Annual Report 2017

3. World Blind Union-International Voice of the Blind - A.K. Mittal

4. National Desk of National Federation of the Blind

5. Department and Authorities of the State Government in Service of PWD

6. Institutional Services for the Visually Impaired in Public and Private Sector in Karnataka

7. List of District Hostels for Working and Studying Women with Disability in Karnataka

8. Assistance by the State Government for Empowerment of Persons with Disability

9. Authorities and Institutions of Government of India in Service of Persons with Disability

10. Assistance by Government of India for Socio-Economic Empowerment

11. Availability of Accessible Periodical Magazines

12. Sources for Availment of Accessible Reading Materials

13. Useful Links for Availment of Various Services, Information and Guidance

14. Innovative Accessible Apps for the Use of Visually Challenged

Recreations

15. Louis Braille and His Wonderful Inventions

16 An overview of” RPD Act 2016” - by Advocate Varsha Iyenger

17. More Women into Social Fold - by Danish Mahajan

18. Tips for personality development by Mrs. Preethi Monga

19. Enable Travel

20. `The Gift’ - by Dr. Kusumlatha Mallik

Success stories

21. Preethi Monga - an inspiration

22. Mrs. Minal Singhvi - a source of light

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Contact Us

Sl. Name & Address Email ID. No.

1. NFB Karnataka Principal Office [email protected] #S-373, Bharat Nagar 2nd phase Near Karnataka Bank , Magadi Main Road Bangalore - 560091 Ph. No: 080-23484794 Mob: 9916368800 / 8197900171

2 National Federation of the Blind (India) [email protected] National Office New Delhi Plot No.21, Sector –VI, M.B.Road, Pushpavihar, New Delhi – 110017 Ph: 91-11-29564198

3 National Federation of the Blind Braille cum Talking Library & Assistive Devices of Aids & Appliances supply service Mob: 8197900171

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The National Federation of the Blind (Karnataka) is a part of a National and largest self help organization of the blind known as National Federation of the Blind (India) representing around 2,50,000 visually impaired people of the state. We are the Voice of the Blind, speaking to State Governments and National bodies, on issues concerning blindness and visual impairments. NFB Karnataka believes to work in partnership with all those national and regional organizations and government agencies for providing services to visually impaired persons.

If someone wishes to join the NFB Karnataka with the view to serve the persons with visual impairment, the membership of the federation is open for all such individuals and institutions.

Our prime focus is on the persons with blindness and low vision with issues such as prevention of blindness rehabilitation, education, employment and social inclusion of persons with visual impairment.

We are also member of Disability NGO Alliance Karnataka and work together as a coalition to advance the living standards of people with disability.

Prime Activities of NFB Karnataka

It was the vision of our founders to reach out to and serve every blind person in the State, and with the view to realize this vision, National Federation of the Blind Karnataka came into existence in 10th July 2004 with the philosophy “Let the Blind Lead the Blind’’.

During the last 13 years the federation has developed a strong plan for Karnataka by providing

a range of services to the blind in every nook and corner of the state through the network of its principal office and regional units at Mysore and Hubli.

We are engaged in raging relentless war on condition of deprivation, denial and destitution faced by the blind persons including men, women, educated or uneducated, young or old, urban or rural. Accordingly we have a kaleidoscopic range and varity of activities covering all sections of the visually challenged population of the state with disability. Our activities are made up of direct service delivery to the persons with visual impairment, their socio-economic empowerment, intensive lobbying and advocacy for influencing the state government for review, modernization and effective implementation of various schemes and programs governing the Rehabilitation, Education, Employment and Social Inclusion of persons with disability.

Our prime activities include the following:-

Aids & Appliances supply service

NFB Karnataka operates a store of wide range of assistive devices which are used by the blind persons in their day to day life. The store procures all such assistive devices from reputed manufacturers and dealers across the country and abroad and make them available to the visually challenged individuals and their institutions in the state at its actual cost. The assistive devices available at store include Braille learning and writing devices, mobility aids, educational aids, indoors and out door games, puzzles and personnel devices. For procurement and more information Mr. Mohan may be contacted: 8197900171

National Federation of the Blind Karnataka (Voice of the Blind)

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State level Braille cum talking library

NFB Karnataka also houses a Braille cum talking library at its principal office. The library caters reading and learning needs of more than thousands of visually challenged individuals throughout the state.

A wide range of Braille, talking and e- books in Kannada, English and Hindi languages are available at library.

The subjects of general interest which the library covers are history, health, Geography, Law, Literature, disability study, General Knowledge, women literature, child literature, competitive exams and other reference books.

Every blind person across the state is entitled to take the membership of library just by making payment of Rs.100/- towards a life membership.

The NFB library is also member of Sugamya Pustakalaya and member of this library may have access to Sugamya Pustakalaya through this library

Sri. Mahesh Ranani may be contacted for any quarry in regard with library at Mob: 8197900171

Information & counseling service

Under this service federation manages to collect and disseminate accurate and update informations to the visually challenged individuals, their parents and institutions in regard with various opportunities, facilities and benefits available to them in different fields of life by the public and private sector at International, National and State level.

We make available the copies of various notifications, circulars and judgements issued by the state governments, central government and judiciary for all type of benefits to persons with visual disability. We also offer the counseling to the needy visually challenged persons in regard with carrier selection, workplace solution, legal

consultation and social support. Under this project we publish a fortnightly e-bulletin “Voice of the Blind” containing all latest news, announcements, informations, job opportunities, effecting the life of visually impaired persons. At present the news paper is being circulated to around 1000 individuals and institutions all over the country through email. Any interested person may subscribe this bulletin by providing just his/her mail ID.

We are also running a SMS service known as “NFB Job Alert”, under this service the availability of job openings any where in state or central government for persons with visual disability are disseminated through SMS. At present the SMS of job alert are being circulated to around 1000 subscribers in Karnataka and more than 500 in rest of India.

Any person who is willing to avail the benefit of this service may make a request to the General Secretary of the Federation at his mobile number : 9980444655 to subscribe the service.

As a new initiative we have also started the publication of audio version of leading monthly Kannada Magazine “Spardhaspoorthi” which is very useful for preparations of competitive exams.

Each monthly issue of the Magazine is made available to its subscribers on MP3CD at their door steps just on a nominal subscription of Rs.100/- per annum. The magazine has also been uploaded on Sugamya Pustakalaya for free download by the users.

Advocacy

According to census 2011 there are around 2,50,000 blind persons in the state , most of these people belong to the under privileged strata of the society. Blindness combined with poverty limits their access to education, employment, health services, etc. All these finally lead to their socio-economic exclusion.

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To promote equality of this marginalized group, to reduce their exclusion, to help them in participating in all developmental measures, make them heard and assert their right, the NFB Karnataka has devised a well focused programme of advocacy with the support of its national leaders.

The federation undertakes the initiatives of both legal and civil advocacy in order to influence the government for improvement and modernization of public policies and practices, governing the rehabilitation, education, employment, social security and other concerns of persons with disability in general and blind in particular.

The federation also persuades the state government for effective implementation of Right to persons with disability act 2016, UN convention of the rights of persons with disability and directions of the judiciary regarding socio-economic empowerment of persons with disability

It is also actively engaged to ensure the delivery of benefits of various welfare schemes of central and state government to maximum number of people with visual disability. We also initiate prompt action in the matters of discriminatory of disabling practice against the visually impaired persons, brought to our notice either by an individual or an organization. On the initiative of the federation,

various law courts have given land mark decisions in order to recognize protect and promote entitlements of the persons with disability.

The federation also undertakes regular awareness campaigning’s for publicizing the capabilities of visually impaired persons.

Other activities

NFB Karnataka also conducts the short term training programs for the visually impaired youngsters for orientation and sensitization of innovative assistive devices and technology. It is working in close cooperation with National Institute for empowerment of persons with visual disability and other national organizations for capacity building of our V.I. brothers and sisters.

Conclusion

Thus this is a brief summary of what NFB Karnataka stands for and what it has been doing for common wellbeing of people with visual disability in the state.

Contact us:

Office : 8023484794 & Mob : 9916368800 Chief Functionary : Sri. Gautam Agarwal General Secretary Mob : 9980444655 Email : [email protected] Website : www.nfbkarnataka.org

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted

the flame within us - Albert Schweitzer

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As we bid good bye to the previous year and welcome the New Year with fresh hopes and aspirations, he would be like to share are activities of the bygone year with all those whom the organization wants to serve. We present a retrospective report of what we have done and achieved during last 12 months, so that thousands of our friends, members, well wishers and most importantly the beneficiaries throughout the state can judge themselves whether we are performing as per their desires and expectations or not.

With this in view, the key activities and achievements of the federation during last one year may be illustrated as under

a. The aids and appliances of worth 12,40,000/- have been made available to many thousand beneficiaries across the state under the aids and appliances supply service of the federation during last one year

b. Four meritorious students who stood first among their visually impaired peers in the state (SSLC-1, PUC-1, Degree-1, PG-1) have been awarded with NFB Prathibha Award worth of Rs.10,000/- (each)

c. 209 Daisy players and 54 smart phones have been distributed to the college going visually impaired students in order to enable them to pursue their higher education through National Institute of visually handicapped Dehradun under ADIP scheme of Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Production of Braille books

The Braille production unit of the federation produced master copies of Kannada general books and several text books of Kannada and English compulsory subjects of degree course of various State Universities of Karnataka and submitted to

NIVH for making available in Braille for Karnataka residing Braille readers.

The unit also produced several master copies of Kannada reference books for competitive exams, general knowledge and recreational books.

The publication of Kannada Grihashobha and on behalf of AICB Delhi and Spardhaspoorthi monthly magazines for its own library members have been continued.

NFB Karnataka Braille cum talking library

NFB Karnataka Braille cum talking library is continuously engaged to meet the requirements of reading material for blind students pursuing higher education, professionals, workers, adults, women, children and senior citizens. Till date, the collection of wide range of books in Kannada, English and Hindi languages in all accessible formats (including Braille, talking and e-books) have exceeded more than 1600 and membership of the federation have entered in 4 digits during the past one year. 30 new members have been added, 245 members visited the library, 382 Braille/talking books were circulated as per the demand of the members.

Employment Promotion

With a prime focus of the federation to help our qualified and trained visually challenged brothers and sisters in securing gainful employment in public sector, the federation has been taking up various initiatives since its inception. The steps taken by the federation during the past one year for the employability of persons with visual impairment are as under

a. 22,000 SMS have been circulated to more than 1200 visually impaired persons for informing them about the new job openings/recruitments in public sector services of central and state governments in which

National Federation of the Blind (Karnataka) Annual Report 2017

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certain number of posts have been reserved for V.I. category.

b. Identification of suitable post for V.H. category in state government services: - As a member of the state post identification committee, federation has been playing a key role to convince the concerned authorities to identify many important post in their establishments as suitable for VH category in conformity with the list of identified jobs notified by the government of India.

During past one year, many new jobs including group A, B, C and D have been identified as suitable for blind and low vision in various departments and services of the state government.

c. Screening of all recruitment notification of the state government with the view to ensure the due compliance of all provisions relating the scheme of job reservation for persons with disability. The screening of many such recruitment notification have been done and the concerned recruiting authorities have been influenced for necessary rectification, as a result of which the job opportunities to persons with disability could be enhanced during the past one year.

d. Federation has also made available the reference books for various competitive exams to the visually impaired aspirants in Braille, talking and e-formats. Such as FDA, SDA, Railway, Banking and many other competitive exams. Federation has also undertaken publication of audio version of leading Kannada monthly magazine “Spardhaspoorthi” which is very helpful in order to be prepared for all type of competitive exams.

e. A fortnightly E-bulletin of the federation “Voice of the Blind” : The circulation of the e-bulleting of the federation “Voice of the Blind” is still continued, all 24 issues

of the bulletin have been circulated regularly during the past year of 2017. Each issue of the bulletin contains a wide range of news and informations across the globe that affects the lives of visually impaired persons.

The list of subscribers has exceeded more than 1000 individuals and institutions all over the country.

Advocacy and lobbing

As the federation has ever its main thrust on legal / civil advocacy as well as lobbying and influencing the public authorities for progressive, improvement and modernization of public policies, programmes and practices governing the education, rehabilitation and employment of persons with disability :

Some key advocacy initiatives and their outcomes during the past year are as under

a. On the strong demand and sustained lobbying of the federation the state government made a allocation of Rs.4 crore in its budget for financial year 2017-18 to pay the 10% amount of the premium of the persons with disability for health insurance policy under Svaavalamban Health Scheme of the central government in term of which 90% of the premium is born by the central government.

b. Placement of visually challenged and low vision persons in various government jobs :-

Due to our focused advocacy and continued vigilance with regard to due implementation of scheme of job reservation for persons with disability in general and visually impaired in particular, a large number of visually challenged individuals could get the different jobs in state and central government services.

c. The persistent advocacy and lobbying of the federation through all permissible means including the stage of dharna and demonstration by NFB state youth committee made the state government to procure and

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distribute 1000 laptops to visually challenged college going students which was over due for last 2 years.

d. Owing to the pressing demands of the federation the state government made the provision in budget for financial year 2017-18 to enhance the amount of the benefit from 30,000/- to 50,000 for sports persons with disability under Saadhane Scheme.

e. In terms of continued demands of the federation the state government issued a new government order with regard to carry forward unfilled reserved vacancy for persons with disability for succeeding recruitment year as per sec.36 of the previous PWD act 1995.

f. As a result of strong demand of the federation the state government has constituted a formal

Reservation of the vacancies for blind and low vision in recruitments of various departments under state government during last one year (2017) are as under :

Sl. No.

Name of the Department

Job title Total vacancies Quantum of reservation for VIP

1 KSRTC Administrative officer 59 4

2 MRPL Mangalore Trainee assistance (Hindi) Information not available

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3 BEML , Bangalore Various administrative posts 154 4

4 Karnataka Rural Infrastructure Development Ltd., Bangalore

Various posts 42 2

5 Agricultural Department Various administrative posts 96 11

6 Karnataka High Court Typist 34 10 (for persons with disability including VI)

7 Health and Family Welfare Department

Male & Female Jr. Health Assistant

2124 82

8 Karnataka Residential Institutional Education Society (KRIES) Under Department of Social Welfare

Teaching & Non teaching jobs 3376 156

9 Dharwad District Court Stenographer, typist, copier 46 3

10 Karnataka Land Record Department Peon, 161 10

11 Central University of Karnataka Kalburgi

Assistant & Associate professor

103 2

12 Various departments through KPSC Various group A & B posts 401 16

13 Karnataka Examination Authority P.U. Lecturers 1130 44

14 District and Session Court Hassan Peon 24 1

15 Various departments through KPSC various posts 1583 88

Total posts called 9333 435

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committee comprising of government officials and representatives of the disability sector to frame the state rules on new RPD act 2016.

g. Due to the persistent lobbying of the federation state project Director of SSA placed an order for printing of revised school text books in Braille to National Institute for Empowerment of persons with visually disability Chennai and thus the new books would be available to the school going V.I. children in both normal as well as special schools.

Financial assistance to poorest visually impaired persons under National food security scheme of the federation

The Financial assistance to poorest visually impaired individuals have been continued during the past one year too and 11 new women beneficiaries have been enrolled for the assistance including them the total strength of the beneficiaries reach to 58 out of them 38 are men and 20 are women. In initial 9 months (from January to September) the financial assistance has been extended at the rate of 200 per month to men and at the rate of 500 per month to women beneficiaries. From 1st October 2017 the amount of assistance has been substantially enhanced and the last installments of 3 months (from October to December 2017) are being given at the rate of 500 per month to men and 1000 for women.

Thus the total amount of financial assistance extended to our poorest and helpless brothers and sisters during the year 2017 is Rs. 2,75,400/- to total 58 beneficiaries.

Loan to Members of the federation: Two members of the federation have been advanced the amount of Rs.40,000 for meeting their emergency requirements.

Production of talking books

The federation as its new project has set up an audio book recording room at its office and

commenced the production of accessible audio books of various academic/professional courses as well as general interest.

Federation feels obliged towards Inner wheel club Vijayanagar Bangalore for its generous sponsorship to master copies of 2 audio books, the production of which is in process.

During the reported period total 816 pages have been audio recorded including 9 issues of Spardhaspoorthi kannada monthly magazine, one book of running SSLC course and one general book titled 1000 beauty tips. The Spardhaspoorthi magazine has been made available to its 40 subscribers and same is also uploaded at Sugamya Pustakalaya online library for free access of its readers from anywhere across the country.

The short term capacity building training program: During the reported year federation undertook a project with financial support of National Institute for empowerment of persons with visual disability Dehradun to conduct 10 two days training programs at different locations across the state for sensitization and orientation of the children and youngsters with visual impairment to various innovative and useful assistive devices like smartcane, smart phone, Daisy layer, and so on.

Five out of 10 programs have already been conducted respectively at Belgaum, Chikkamangalore, Mysore, Karwar and Hubli. Total 250 Visually impaired students have so for taken the advantage of these programs.

This is the report card of the NFB Karnataka of its performance and achievements during the past one year 2017.

Team NFB Karnataka

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The World Blind Union (WBU) came into existence in 1984 through the unification of two leading world bodies relating to work with the blind--the International Federation of the Blind (IFB) and the World Council for the Welfare of the Blind (WCWB). At the time of its establishment, WBU had about 60 countries as its members, but, today, its membership is around 190 countries, close to the total United Nations’ membership. It has emerged as a powerful international voice of about 285 million persons with visual impairment across the world.

WBU’s long-term vision is: People who are blind or partially sighted can participate fully in any aspect of life they choose. Its short term, four-year vision has four ladders that together will move it towards the realization of its long-term vision. These four vision ladders are:

1. That WBU is recognized as the authentic voice representing blind and partially sighted persons at the international level;

2. That its members at all levels have the capability and capacity to deliver their programmes;

3. That blind and partially sighted persons live in a world that is increasingly accessible to them;

4. That WBU is recognized as an international source in matters related to visual impairment.

WBU is divided into six regions: Europe, Africa, North America/Caribbean, Latin America, Asia and Asia Pacific. Our country comes in the region called the Asian Blind Union (ABU) which consists of countries in the Middle East, Central Asia and South Asia. Mr. S.K. Rungta, General Secretary, National Federation of the Blind, is its current President.

As far as the structure of WBU is concerned, it has a General Assembly which is its sovereign policy-making entity and meets every four years and also elects Table Officers for the next term. All National, International, Associate and Special Members who have paid their fees up to date, are entitled to send delegates to the Assembly. The number of delegates a National Member can send is determined by the total population of that country--number ranging from two to ten. The last General Assembly was held in Orlando, U.S.A., in 2016.

WBU’s Executive is its decision-implementing body, which consists of four members (including Presidents) from each of the six Regional Unions, Table Officers and some representatives of International Members. The next meeting of the Executive is due in Ottawa, Canada, towards the end of May, 2018.

WBU has six Table Officers--one President, one Immediate Past President, two Vice Presidents, one Secretary General and one Treasurer. They are, as stated earlier, elected at the General Assembly. Dr. Fredric Schroeder from U.S. is WBU’s current President and Mr. Arnt Holte from Norway is the Immediate Past President.

Besides, WBU has a very small complement of staff led by the CEO, who is, at present, Dr. Penny Hartin. On her retirement, Mr. José Viera from Argentina is to take over as the CEO.

WBU has a dream--every visually impaired person should have access to the same book, the same day, the same cost as others. We fervently hope and trust that one day, some day, very soon, this dream will take actual shape.

World Blind Union-International Voice Of The BlindBy - A K Mittal

Secretary General, World Blind Union Member, World Braille Council

President, All India Confederation of the Blind

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The range of WBU’s work also includes capacity building, leadership development and empowerment of women, youth and indigenous people. It also includes the development and sharing of tools and resources, advocacy on key issues for people with vision loss and representing the views of and speaking on behalf of blind and partially sighted persons at the international level to organizations such as the United Nations and its agencies.

Following its seventh General Assembly in Geneva in 2008, WBU has been adopting Strategic Workplans for the subsequent quadrennia. The Workplan for the present quadrennium consists of four priority areas:

(a) Promoting full participation, equal opportunities, and protecting the human rights of blind and partially sighted persons in all aspects of social, economic, political and cultural life and ensuring that our voice is heard at the global, regional and national levels in all matters affecting our lives;

[b) Strengthening the capabilities and capacity of the WBU regional structures and member organizations;

(c) Working towards a world that is increasingly accessible to blind and partially sighted persons;

(d) Supporting and enhancing our advocacy, representation and capacity strengthening efforts through raising awareness and support for our campaigns and initiatives, providing information and resources on matters important to blind and partially sighted persons and collaborating effectively with others.

In addition, the Workplan has an “Enabling Priority” which deals mostly with in-house matters.

Each of these Priority areas is led by a Table Officer and each Priority area has certain Strategic Objectives which are led by senior persons. All this Workplan agenda may seem quite ambitious, but determined efforts are made to work towards

fulfilling these tasks and progress is reviewed by Officers at each of their bi-annual meetings.

WBU has several Committees and Working Groups to deal with various items of the Workplan. These include: World Braille Council, Technology Committee, Development Committee, Women’s Committee, CRPD and SDG Working Group etc.

Some of the notable initiatives of the WBU during the past five years include:

(a) Intensive work leading to the adoption of a document known as the “Marrakesh Treaty”, which facilitates cross-border exchange of reading material and calls for removal of Copyright restriction by national governments;

(b) Support by way of guidance and sharing of important documents, to members on various advocacy matters;

(c) Provision of a toolkit for verifying implementation of UNCRPD and related issues;

(d) Information-sharing on the content of Sustainable Development Goals 2030 and conduct of training webinars;

(e) Preparation and dissemination of a comprehensive Resource Guide containing information on various funding agencies;

(f) Information on an International Research Project conducted on various facets of Rehabilitation;

(g) Work with ICEVI on development of a curriculum for teachers in least developed countries;

(g) An intensive “Right to Read” Campaign with the help of members;

(h) Development of variety of resource papers, policy papers and WBU position papers on a range of subjects providing a wealth of information and support.

For further details about WBU, please, visit the organization’s website: www.wbu.ngo

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Contact Details of Central Office Address: National Federation of the Blind (India) ,National Office New Delhi, Plot No.21, Sector –VI, M.B.Road, Pushpavihar, New Delhi – 110017, Ph: 91-11-29564198, Email: [email protected] , Chief Executive Officer: Mr. Dhyani, Mob: 9313057246

National Desk of National Federation of the Blind

Sl. No.

Name Designation Address & contact detail Profession

1 Dr. Shirish L. Despande National President Plot No.54, Central Excise Colony Layout, Telecom Nagar, Khamla Nagpur 400025 (MH)

Prof. of Law at Nagpur University

2. Sri Santosh Kumar Rungta

National General Secretary

D-67, East of Kailsha, New Delhi & Supreme Court

Sr. Advocate in Delhi High court

3 Sri. Kashimani National Vice president (South Zone)

Mob: 9444482241

email: [email protected]

Instructor at Regional Center of NIVH at Chennai

4. Sri Vishvanath Reddy National Secretary (South)

Kurnool, A.P.

Mob: 9491362518

email: [email protected]

Teacher in Government School AP

5 Mrs. Kusumalatha Malik National Vice president and Chairperson to National Women wing

Delhi

Mob: 9643339979

prof. in Hindi, Delhi University

6 Sri Naveen kumar National Secretary and Chairperson to Youth wing

Delhi

mob: 9312640651

Teacher in Government School

7 Ms. Madhu Singhal National coordinator to women wing

Mitrajyothi, C.A. Site No.P22, 31st Main, 18th cross, HSR Layout, Sector 1, Behind NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology), Bangalore – 560102

Ph: 080-22587623/24 Mob: 9741224889 email: [email protected]

Managing Trustee of Mitrajyothi Charitable Trust Bangalore

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All State Branches of National Federation of the Blind in India

Sl. No.

Sate Address General Secretary/Chief functionary

Contact Number

1 Andrapradesh National Federation of the Blind Andhra Pradesh State Branch D.No. 2/98-2, Second Floor Maruthi Nagar Street, Kadapa-516001, Andhra Pradesh

Sri. M. Ramasubbaiah General Secretary

09866379428

2 Assam National Federation of the Blind Assam, North-East Development Centre

#36, 1st Floor, Pragati by lane Vishnu Radhan path, Chandran Nagar, Ghoroamora, P O Beltala, Guwahati -781023

Mr. Mohd. Imran Ali Chief functionary

09957564245

3 Chattisgarh National Federation of the Blind Chattisgarh Branch

S-301, Anand Apartment, 27- Kholi Ramkot, Bilaspur- 495001 Chhattishgarh

09300327330

4 Gujarat National Federation of the Blind Gujarat State Branch

#85, Jeevanjyot Society, New Koshad Roda, Amroli Surat-394107

Mrs. Devyaniben Thakur G.S

08758554847

5 Haryana National Federation of the Blind Haryana Branch

#111, Vashisht Nagar Babiyal, Ambala Cantt., Haryana

Mr. Jageram G.S

09466170294

6 Himachal Pradesh National Federation of the Blind Himachal Pradesh State Branch

Swami Lodge, ITI Road, Ward No.2 Solan -173211, Himachal Pradesh

Mr. Shobhu Ram G.S

09418350970

7 J&K National Federation of the Blind Jammu Branch

Jammu Blind School, Ved Mandir, Ambfala, Jammu (J&K)

R.D. Dubey G.S

09419286009

8 Jharkhand National Federation of the Blind Jharkhand State Branch

Plot No.280, Ground Floor, A.G. Co-operative Colony, Kadru, P.S. Argora, Post-Doranda Ranchi, Jharkhand-834002

Jayaram Pradhan G.S

07870929938

9 Karnataka National Federation of the Blind Karnataka State Branch

S-372, Bharath Nagar, 2nd Phase, Near Karnataka Bank, Magadiroad, Bangalore -560091

Mr. Gautam Agarwal G.S

09980444655

10 Madhyapradesh National Federation of the Blind Madhya Pradesh Branch

H.No.44, Jagannath Puri Colony Neelbad, Bhopal-462044

Mr. Avadesh Vishwakarma

G.S

09301529222

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11 Maharashrtra National Federation of the Blind Maharashtra Branch

Swami Samarth Bunglow

plot No.16, Next to Roshni Apartment Jachak Mala, Jai Bhawani Road, Nashik Road, Nashik-422101

Mr. D.P. Jadhav

G.S

09324627844

12 Orissa National Federation of the Blind Orissa

Plot No. 2720, Nigam Vihar Complex At/post-Chandol, Kendrapada, Orissa

H.K. Behera

G.S

09937413920

13 Pondhucherry National Federation of the Blind Pudhucherry

14, Second Cross Street, Raja Nagar Urulaiyan Pettai

Pondhucherry -605013

14 Punjab National Federation of the Blind Punjuba State Branch

H.No. 103, Golden Avenue Opp, Guru Nursing Home Dhandra Road, Dugri, Ludhiana-141013 (Punjab)

Mr. Balvinder Singh

G.S

09888385786

15 Rajasthan Rajasthan Netraheen Sewa Sangh Makarwali Road, Vaishali Nagar, Ajmer-305004

Mr. Jairam Meena

G.S

09829270935

16 Tamilnadu National Federation of the Blind Tamilnadu

No.32, Annadurai Street Anakaputhur, Chennai-600070

G. Ramamurthy

G.S

09444387798

17 Telangana National Federation of the Blind Telangana

4-3-738, Srivenkat Sai Apartment Ramkot, Hyderabad-5600095

Mr. Anil Kumar Kopally

G.S

07674911958

18 Uttarpradesh National Federation of the Blind U.P. Branch

B-150, New Building, 4th Floor, Darul Shafa, M.L.A. Hostel, Lal Bagh, Lucknow-226001,U.P.

Mr. Shiv Kumarr Singh

G.S

9335874726

19 Uttrakhand National Federation of the Blind Uttrakhand Branch

58/2m (Near Valley Gas Godown) Canal Road, Jakhan, Dehradun, Uttrakhand

Mr. P.S. Chouhan-

G.S

09412003657

Various service projects of the federation

The key institutional service projects run by the central office of the federation in different parts of the country include the following

Residential Schools for children with visual disability

i. Blind Girls School Chhattishgarh Infront of Anand Apartment, 27- Kholi, Vikas Nagar, Bilaspur Chhattishgarh) Contact Persons : Mr. Guman Ram Patel Cell No. 09300327330

Phone:- 07752-415612 Education from 1st to 8th standard

ii. Louie Braille Memorial Residential School for Sightless Girls Mutthi Mode, Roop Nag ar Sector-1, Jam mu (J&K) Contact Persons : Mr. Ram Dass Dubey Cell No. 09419286009 Phone:- 0191-2579269 Email:- [email protected] Education from 1st to 7th standard

17

iii. Kanpur Blind School 110/241 Nehru Nag ar , Kan pur Uttar Prad esh Contac t Person : Mr. Indraj eet Singh Cell No. 06450063663 Phone : 0512-2543124 Emai l:- kbs.680@rediffmai l.com Education from Nursery to 8th standard

Hostels for college going students

a. Girls hostel in Delhi

b. Hostel for boys Ajmer, Rajasthan

NFB Hostel for College Going Blind Students C/o Netraheen Sewa Sangh Makarwali Road Vaishali Nagar Ajmer (Rajasthan) Contact Persons: Mr. jai Ram Meena Cell No. 09829270935, Phone: 0145-2642667 (Email: [email protected]) Academic Session:- July to May

c. Hostel for boys Ambala Cant. Haryana

NFB Hostel for College Goind Blind Students Mill Road opp. Dashhara Ground, Ram Bagh, Near Rotary Hospital, Ambala Cantt. Con.Person: Mr. Jage Ram C.No. 09466170294

TRAINING CUM PRODUCTION CENTRES:

In this era of Globalization, Liberalization and new Technological Development, the job opportunities in Govt. and Public Sector are minimizing day by day. To counter this situation the Federation has opened training and rehabilitation centers in different parts of the country. In these centers the visually challenge persons are imparted training in various trades and later their skills are used in production centers where a number of items are prepared by the blind themselves. The items are later sold in market by the Federation. The trainees are also paid stipend during the training period. These training centers are also preparing the blind for starting their own self-employment ventures. Presently the Federation is running this scheme on the following centers:

1. Training cum rehabilitation centre at Kanpur Blind school, 110/ Nehru Nagar Kanpur

Established in the year 2005. It has 19 number of beneficiaries at present who are engaged in manufacturing paper plates, dona and pattals etc.

2. Training cum rehabilitation Centre at S-17/24-15-1, Charan Nagar Colony Nadesar Varanasi (U.P.)


3. Training cum rehabilitation Centre at Mill Road opp. Dashhara Ground, Ram Bagh, Near Rotary Hospital, Ambala Cantt.


Braille Press

National Federation of the Blind Computerized Braille Press at Bahadurgarh, Haryana

Federation is running two Braille presses. One at its own building at Bahadurgarh Haryana and the other at Guwahati Assam. Braille Press at Bahadurgarh Haryana prints Braille books not only to cater the needs of blind students for their text books in different states but also of other blind individuals for getting books of different subjects including novels etc. For more details contact Mr. R.C.S. Panwar Director Projects North at his mobile number 09416055912 or Land line no. 01276-233604. Braille Press at Guwahati Assam caters to the need of blind students at Assam and other North East States. Printed in Braille for blind readers. For this project please contact Mr. Imran Ali National Federation of the Blind Braille Press and Education, Training and Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind Near Police Station (N.H. 37), Dharamtul-782412, Mori Gaon, Assam (Cell No.

18

09957564245 and Email:- [email protected]).

Various National Schemes of the Federation for assistance of its visually impaired members

* National Educational Loan SchemeUnder this Scheme the blind students who are pursuing B.Ed. or Special Teachers Training are granted loan for their admission in College/University to pursue the said courses during the Financial Year 2015-16 a total number of 40 blind students were sanctioned Education Loan of Rs. 9,96,000/-. So far since the launching of scheme a total number of 348 blind students have been sanctioned Education Loan worth rupees 82,19,661/-.

Eligibility criteria:-

1. This scheme shall be applicable to those blind members of the Federation who are pursuing B.Ed and Special Teacher Training course for the blind only. The loan amount shall be interest free and maximum limit is 50000/- (fifty Thousand).

2. The Guarantor should be the Govt. of employee and duration of refund of loan shall be five years from the date of loan sanctioned.

3. The applications should be accompanied by the following documents;

a. Identity Card of the Federation as well as of the course being pursed.

b. Copy of marksheet of the last qualifying course.

Emergency medical assistance scheme

The Federation provides Medical Assistance to its members by way of loans or in some cases as assistance. The Federation has also a Medical Relief Fund of government employees. This fund has been created by the government employees which they are managing themselves through the Federation. The maximum age limit to become the member of this relief fund 40 years. In case of emergency, rupees 25000/- is paid treatment in the form of loan and in case of death, assistance

of Rs. 50000/- is paid to family member of the deceased which is not refundable.

National Housing Loan Scheme

Under this scheme only Government Employees are granted loans maximum up to Rs.1500000/- During the year 2015-16 a total number of 10 blind employees were sanctioned loan worth Rs. 1,23,000,00/-. So far since the launching of this scheme a total number of 213 Blind Employees have been sanctioned loan worth rupees 18,91,44,000/-.

Conditions :-1. The beneficiary should be a blind Government

employee and the member of the federation.2. The maximum limit was rupees twenty lakh

but now the limit has been curtailed to rupees Fifteen lakh.

3. Maximum time period is 10 years.4. The rate of interest is 8%.5. The loaner should arrange a guarantor who

should be a Government employee.6. The rate of processing fee is 2% of sanctioned

loan.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

The Federation is affiliated to world blind union and is actively contributing to the activities of Asian Blind Union which is one of the regional unions of World Blind Union. The General Secretary of the Federation Shri S K Runghta is currently the president of Asian Blind Union. The World Blind Union has a consultative status with UN and as such, being the president of ABU, Federation’s General Secretary is also taking active part in policy formulation and implementation of various international policies in ABU region pertaining to inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities. Currently, Federation’s General Secretary is serving on the advocacy and human rights committee of World Blind Union besides working as one of the regional coordinator for Marrakesh Treaty rectification campaign.

19

Sl. No. Name of the Department/Authority

Contact details Key functions

1 Office of principal secretary to Department of Women & Child Development & empowerment of differently abled and senior citizens

Ground floor, M.S building, Dr. Ambedkarveedi, Bangalore-560001 PH - 080-22032562 E-Mail [email protected]

Web ID- www.dwcdkar.gov.in

Policy formulation and monitoring

2 Directorate for empowerment of differently abled and senior citizen

Podium block, Visweswaraiah Centre, Dr.B.R. AmbedkarVeedhi, Bangalore – 560 001 PH # Tel:080-22866066, 22866046 Fax- 22868347 [email protected] Web Link – www.welfareofdisabled.kar.nic.in

Implementation and delivery of schemes and programmes for empowering persons with disability

3 Office of state commissioner for persons with disability

Karnataka Slum Development Board Building, AbhayaSankeerna, 2nd Floor, No.55, Risaldar Street (Plat Form Road), Sheshadripuram, Bangalore-560 020.

Phone No: 91-80-23462659/23462625 Email: [email protected] Web ID :www.scd.kar.nic.in/contact_us.asp

To monitor the implementation of persons with disability act 1995 by the state government and redressel of grievances of people with disability in regard with denial of their rights

4 Karnataka State channelizing agency for National Handicapped finance development corporation

Directorate for empowerment of differently abled and senior citizens

Podium block, Visweswaraiah Centre, Dr.B.R. AmbedkarVeedhi, Bangalore – 560 001 PH # Tel:080-22866066, 22866046 Fax- 22868347 [email protected] Web Link – www.welfareofdisabled.kar.nic.in

To facilitate the person with disability in obtaining loan from national handicap finance development corporation for education and self employment.

5 Special Employment exchange for persons with disability , Bangalore

The Employment Officer Special Employment Exchange for Physically Handicapped Govt. ITI premises Hosur Road, B’lore -560029 Phone No:- 080-26636109 Mail : [email protected] notwork

Registration of person with disability for seeking suitable employment.

Agencies of State Govt. in service of person with disability

Department & Authorities of State Government in Service of PWD

20

Sl. No Name of the District Contact detail Prime function

1 DDWO Bangalore urban Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department, NearKidwai Hospital, Hosur Road, Bangalore -29Ph: 080-26577411, M:9980676844\9880118995.Email: [email protected]

Delivery of the services and benefit of all schemes /

programmesto persons with disability in concern district

2 DDWO Bangalore Rural Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department, No.5, Vatal Nagaraj Road, P.R.Plaza, 3rd Floor, Oklipuram, Bangalore-21Ph: 080-23423181, M:[email protected]

As above

3 DDWO Belgaum Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,Remand home building, shivajinagar, Belgaum-590002 Ph: 0831-2476096, M:7847077770 [email protected] [email protected]

As above

4 DDWO Bidar Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,MailurBidar -585401 Ph: 08482-234647, M:9972575782 Email: [email protected] [email protected]

As above

5 DDWO Bagalkote Office of Deputy Director, Ro.No.5,District Administrative Building(JillaAdalithaBhavana)Navanagar, Bagalkote-587103.Ph: 08354-235556 M:9535007945 Email: [email protected]

As above

6 DDWO Bellary Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,Sri SevaNiketan Campus, s.p.circle, hosapet Road, Bellary -04Ph: 08392-267886 M:9632652312Mail ID: [email protected]

As above

District Disabled Welfare offices in all districts

21

7 DDWO Vijapura Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

Jilla panchayat Compound,KankadasBadavane,

Vijapur-586104

Ph: 08352-278369 M:9900960233

Mail: [email protected]

As above

8 DDWO, Chikkamagaluru Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

Taluk panchayat office compound,belur road

Chikkamagaluru-577101 Ph: 08262-228171, M:9448743534. [email protected]

As above

9 DDWO, Chitradurga Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

District BalabhavanCompund, Near District stadium, Chitradurga – 577501. Ph: 08194-235284, M:9945149299 Mail: [email protected] Mail:[email protected]

As above

10 DDWO, Chamarajnagar Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

District Administration building, ground floor, A block, Chamarajnagar Ph: 08226-223688, M:9964279426. [email protected]

As above

11 DDWO, Dharwad Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

Balabavan, Balavikasnagar, near swimming pool, D.C.compund, Dharwad-580001 Ph: 0836-2435749, M:9844579971. [email protected]

As above

12 DDWO Davangere Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

StrishaktiBhavan, 14th Main Road, Kuvempunagar,NearShankaraLeela Gas Agency, MCCB Block, Davangere-577604 Ph: 08192-263936, M:9844899262 [email protected]

As above

22

13 DDWO Haveri Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

Room #4,nelamahadi A block, JillaaAdalitabhavanaHaveri – 581110, Ph: 08375-249014 [email protected]

As above

14 DDWO, Mangalore Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

District Panchayat building, kottarachowki, Ashoknagar, South Kannada, Mangalore- 575006 Ph: 0824-2458173, M:8861667199 Mail: [email protected]

As above

15 DDWO, Gulbarga Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

Government Blind School compound, 1st floor, opp. District stadium, Gulbarga Ph: 08472-255629, M:9740345276 Mail: [email protected] / [email protected]

As above

16 DDWO, Gadag Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

No.06, Hubli Road, Gadag-582101 Ph: 08372-220711, M:8722039789 Mail:[email protected] [email protected]

As above

17 DDWO Hassan Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

District Admin office, 9th cross, K.R.Puram, Hassan -573201. Ph: 08172-264546, M:9448772080 Mail: [email protected]

As above

18 DDWO Mysore Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department

Pulikeshi Road, Tilaknagar, Deaf children school compound, Mysore-570021. Ph: 0821-2490111, M:9480695454 Mail: [email protected]

As above

19 DDWO Kodagu Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

Civil court opp, koteawavarana, madekere, Kodagu – 571201 Ph: 08272-222829, M:9900870876 Mail : [email protected]

As above

23

20 DDWO Kolar Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

Kolar Nursing Home building, Ddwo; Near press bhavan,Kolar Mob:8553739593, Kolar – 583101 Ph: 08152-228250 Mail: [email protected]

As above

21 DDWO Koppal Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

District Admin building, Gadag Road, Koppal Ph: 08539-220596/222703, M:9986590207 [email protected]

As above

22 DDWO Tumkur Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

District Balbhavan building, Tumkur – Ph: 0816-252763, M:9482916495 [email protected] [email protected]

As above

23 DDWO Karwar Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,Auditorium, Balabhavan building Uttarakannada Karwar-581301Ph: 08382-221914, M:9110481302Mail : [email protected]

As above

24 DDWO Udupi Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development DepartmentGround floor R.No. 45, DC office complex, C Block, RajathadriManipal Udupi-576104.Ph: 0820-2574810, :9008875658.Mail: [email protected]

As above

25 DDWO Shivmoga Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development DepartmentC/o Women Santwana Kendra, Old Taluk office Road, ShivmogaPh: 08182-226676, :[email protected]

As above

26 DDWO Mandya Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development DepartmentOld taluk office compoundMandya-571401Ph: 08232-231090 / M:9986385968Mail : [email protected]

As above

24

27 DDWO Raichur Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department#12-8-299, Near Bapuji high school, siyaatalaab, Raichur-584101.08532-235739M:8095279239Mail ID: [email protected]

As above

28 DDWO Ramanagar Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department#107,JillaAdikarigalakachere,HosaSankirana,B.M.Road, Ramanagar-562159.080-27273024, M:8792561341Mail ID: [email protected]

As above

29 DDWO Chikkaballapur Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development DepartmentNew D.C. building, # G-A-18, Shiddalaghatta Road, Chikkaballapura-562101.Ph: 08156-277114M:7259850258Mail: [email protected]

As above

30 DDWO Yadagiri Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development DepartmentSthri Shakti bhavan ,near taluk&panchayat officeYadagiri District-58202Ph: 08473-253739/253740M8904592975.Mail : [email protected]@gmail.com

As above

The Information and Guidance centers for persons with disability at Districts level

A information and guidance center has also been established at each District Disabled welfare office. So person with disability, their parents, guardians, caregivers, organizations, and all other well wishers may approach to these information and guidance centers for seeking any kind of information/guidance con-cerning the matters effecting the life of persons with disability, as per above mentioned contact details of the all District Disabled Welfare Offices (DDWO)

r

25

Special residential School for the Blind Children

Sl. No.

Name & Place Address Contact details Status Activities

1 Asha Kiran Residential School for Blind Children

Chikkamagalur

Kempanna Halli, Chikka Magalur Karnataka - 577101

Tel. No. 08262 – 222368

Mail ID. [email protected]

www.ashakiranckm.com

BG Chandrashekar-HM, M:09448658237

NGO School Education upto 10th std. and Various professional trainings,Sports training karate,yoga.

2 Ashakirana Education & Rehabilitations Society

Chikkaballapura.

Health Colony, Post Office Road, Behind Railway Station, Sidlaghatta Taluk – Chikkaballapura District. 562 105 Karnataka.

M:9448368147 M:9449314250 Tel. No. 08158– 255600. [email protected]

NGO School Education upto 10th std.

3 Asha Kiran Residential School for Blind. Bidar.

Near KVK, opp Sandesh petrol pump, Janwada Road, markal taluk Bidardist - 585402 Karnataka

Tel. No. 08482-225383\9449399558

9743325263

[email protected]

NGO School Education upto 10th std. professional trainings, Music & Vocational training course

4 Deepa academy for the

differently – abled- office address

School &Hostel Address

Deepa academy for the

Differently Abled

Deepa academy for the

Differently Abled

- Chamarajanagara

Deepa Academy for the Differently-abled,

#226/A/3, Tank Bund Road, Subramanya Nagar, Bangalore-21

Address-#63,East west Boys Hostel Campus,Bharathnagar 1ststage,Magadi Main Road,Bangalore-560091

Bogapuravillage, dhama, Chamarajanagara Taluk & Dist.

1 To 7th School& Dairy Forming Unit

Ph: 23471268 Email ID: info@ deepaacademy.org/ [email protected]

Ravi 9980368431

Shubha-09916483816 [email protected] www.deepaacademy.org

Chamarajanagar mob: 9945922868 (contact person Shilpa)

NGO School Education from 8th to 10th std. Hostel for College going V.I. students/ training of dance and music \ Comp Lab\ Brail Library\ Placement Service& Dairy Forming Unit at Chamarajnagar

Institutional Services for Visually Impaired in Public and Private Sector in all over Karnataka

26

5 Dr. Pandithpanchakshari

gawai’s special music & primary school for the blind, Gadag

Sriviresvhara punyashram. Panchakshari Nagar. Gadag- 582101. Karnataka

Tel: 08372- 238464,

230079

M: 9902367099

NGO School Education upto primary level / training of Musical vocal and instrumental

6 JMR school for blind

children

Ashakirana trust

JMR School Ashakiran trust (Regd)Siddapur Uttara gadgurumuruga rajendra Blind school haladakatta Siddapur - 581355

Ph: 08389 - 231603 / 230286 / 230386 7676488679 [email protected]


Music, yoga, vocational training,

7 Jyothiseva school and home for the V.I. girls

JyothiSeva School for the Blind

1st Main Rd, 3rd Cross, Venkateshpura Bangalore 45.

Ph No: 25477972 (Office),

25433365 - (School)

25446748

[email protected]

9535531105, 8197156745

NGO School Education upto primary level. Hostel for college going V.I. Student / Training of Dance and other curriculum activities

8 School of Karnataka welfare

Association for the blind

# 69, 1st Main, Nehru Nagar, Sc Road, Sheshadripuram, Bangalore- 560 020

Ph: +91-80-23369703 /23345118

8088611200, 8088920465

[email protected]

www.kwab1976.org

NGO School Education upto 10th std. and training in different trades and professions Project Placement Service\ Comp communication Training and Dance

9 Karnataka Andharaokkuta M-Krishna Residential School for the Blind Salgami Road, Near AIR Station, Hassan - 573 201 Karnataka

9900499121

Ph: 08172-245876

[email protected]

NGO School Education from 1st to 9th std vocational training of Basket making and chair recanning

10 Maheshwari School for the Blind (Belgaum)

Residential include.

Behind Ramdev Hostel, Nehru Nagar, Belgaum-590 010 Karnataka

Ph: 0831-2471482,

9448954235

E-mail ID: [email protected]

Website: www.

associationfortheblind.info

NGO School Education upto 10th std. and training in various trades and professions.

Craft training, Music class, computer training, PE-swimming, cricket, all sports training

27

11 Mathru Education Trust,

Bangalore for V.I. Girls

C.A. Site.14, 6th Cross, 5th Phase, Newtown, Yalahanka, Bangalore-64.

080-28463992

Muktha-M:09481027191 Email-ID: [email protected] www.mathrublindschool.org


12 Karnataka Nava Chetana Blind School

Kuvempunagar, Kunigal town Tumkur District, Karnataka - 572130.

Ph: 08132-220550

9844855643

[email protected]

NGO School Education upto Primary.

Music, craft training.

13 Ranga Rao Memorial School for V.I. girls

Ranga Rao Memorial School for Disabled # 1/c, KRS Road, Metagalli, Mysore- 570 016

Ph. 0821-2412320

9242240401 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Web: www.rangsons.com

NGO School Education upto to 10th Std. Music, Cookery, P T, Computer, Dance

14 Shree Rakum School for

the Blind

# 421, Shree Krishna Temple Road, Indiranagar, 1st Stage Bangalore, Karnataka - 560038

Ph: 080-25215253 / 25215705 / 25254721 Fax : 080 - 25215253 E-Mail: [email protected] www.rakum.org

NGO Formal School Education Primary School, Karate, Dance, Yoga, abacus.

15 Shree Ramana Maharishi

Academy for the Blind

SRMAB, 3rd Cross,

3rd Phase, J.P. Nagar,

Bangalore - 560 078 Karnataka

Ph No: (O) 080 - 26581076/ 26580325 Fax: 080 - 26588045 E-mail ID: [email protected] Web: www.srmab.org.in

9482022973

NGO School Education upto 10th std. and various training programmes for vocational and professional skill development. Special D.Ed. course.

16 Shree Shivasharanaharalayya

Vidyavardaka Residential

School for Blind Children

Mallikarjunanagar, BLD Road, Bijapur-586103

9480902211

9880182080

NGO School Education upto Primary level.

Music, computer,

17 Shri Aroodha educational

society for disabled (r)

#17, 2nd Cross, Magagikondilayout, Siddarod mutt main Road Old Hubli - 24

Phone: 0836 – 2202138

9449669161

[email protected]

ok


18 Shri Manikprabhushikshan Samiti

Maniknagar, Humnabad, Bidar - 585 353 Karnataka

Ph: 08483 - 270042

E-mail ID: - [email protected] Web: www.manikprabhu.org

9480167551


Computer, yoga, music.

28

19 Shri Sharadhadeviandhara Vikaskendra

Shivmoga

Paramhamsa Nagar, Anupinakatte Road, Gopala, Shivmoga - 577 205 Karnataka

Phone: 08182-222020

9845446288

e-mail ID - [email protected]

NGO School Education upto 10th std.,

Training of Yoga, Music, Yakshagana, Dairy formatting and other cultural activities

20 Jagadgurusri Balagangadaranatha swamy free residential School for the Blind

Archakarahalli, BM Road Ramanagaram Dist – 562159 Karnataka

Contact No: 080 -2 7201091 9740222169 e-mail Id - [email protected]


Music, yoga,

21 SREE Siddaganga School for the Blind (Tumkur)

SreeSiddaganga Math, Tumkur -572 104 Karnataka [email protected]

Ph: (O) 0816 - 2282211 (Fax) 0816 - 2282511

NGO School Education upto 10th standard

22 Tikshnaorganizaion for rehabilitation of Visually impaired,

Chitradurga

Near Mallappana Hatti, Beside Social Forest Office, Bheema Samudra Road, Chitradurga-577601.

8762004787

[email protected]

NGO School Education upto Primary and training of

Yoga, computer and indoor games.

23 Govt. School for the Bind

(boys), Mysore

Bamboo Bazar Tilak Nagar Mysore – 570 001

Phone: 0821 - 2497496

9481441453

e-mail Id - [email protected]

Govt. School Education upto 10th std.

24 Govt. Boys School for the

Blind,

HUBLI

Shri SiddharoodSwamy Mutt, Karwar Road, Old Hubli District Dharwad, HUBLI - 580 024 Karnataka

Phone: 0836 - 2204167

9945731984

E-mail Id - [email protected] [email protected]

Govt. School Education upto Primary level. Training of Classical music, cricket, chess, all types disabled materials supply,& District level Rehabilitation programme.

25 Govt. school for the blind

(Girls) at Davangere

Near Devraj Urs Layout, “B” Block, 1st Cross, Near Shivali Talkies, Davangere (Karnataka) 577006

Ph: 08192 – 250442 9448415383 [email protected]

Govt. School Education upto 10th std.

Computer Lab, Music.

26 Govt. High school for the Blind (boys), Gulbarga

I-van E Shani,Near Chandrasekhar Patil Stadium GULBARGA - 585 102 Karnataka.

Ph: 0847-2220641 M: 09986594149 [email protected]

Govt. School Education 1st to 10th All cultural activities regular.

29

27 Belaku Academy

Bangalore

Ashwini Angadi Trust # 3 - 1st Cross, Shrinidhi Layout, 2nd Phase, Opposite water tank, Near Janapriya Town Ship, Kadabagere Post Magadi Road, Bangalore 560130

Ph: 9741595749 [email protected]

Web:ashwiniangaditrust.org

8095654922, 080-2853559 [email protected]

NGO Formal School education and professional trainings, 1 To 10thstd with Residential, Music, vocational, &instrumental, Dance practice, sports-chess, cricket, yoga, craft.

28 Special School for visually Challenged Children (Sri Sharada institution of visual management ) of Sri Ramakrishna Sevashrama Pavagada

(unit of Sri Ramakrishna Sevashrama)

Swami Vivekananda Nagara, Pavagada – 561 202

Ph. Hospital : 91 8136 – 244030 / 24491

Ashrama : 91 8136 – 244548 Fax : 244290

Email : [email protected] [email protected]

NGO Formal School education and professional trainings.

29 Smt, Ambubai Residential School for Blind Girls,

Gulbarga

4/282, Makpampura Badavane Gulbarga.

585101

9535393900 [email protected] web-www.ambubaischoolforblindgirls.org


Craft, computer, yoga.

30 Samagra Jeevanavikasasamsthe)

Bagalkote

Sarvodaya Building infront of CBSE school 8th Cross, Vidyagiri Bagalakote 587313

9535873060

9845298041

[email protected]

NGO School Education upto Primary level.

Yoga, Music, Computer.

31 Roman & Catharine lobo School for the Blind

Mangalore

3rd cross, Kotekani, Bajai. Mangalore - 575004

0824-2458552

9945421892

[email protected]


Computer, music, craft, dance

32 Gnanapragna Residential Blind Childrens School Karnataka

Deshpande nagar, Mundagodu, Mundagodu Taluk Karavara-581349

09845275024

08301-222820

[email protected]


Music,yoga and other.

33 Gnanajyothi Residential Blind School

Ijari, Lakkampur, Nearst Quarters Taluk & Dist Haveri

09845275024 NGO 1st to 9th

Computer, yoga, Music

34 Sri ManikPrabhu Academy For the Blind

Rayachur

Sri Manikprabhu Residential School for the Blind, In memory of the Sri Sathyanarayan Zovara, Manikprabhumandir, Rayachur, Karnataka

PH:08532-240131

M:09448844418

[email protected]

NGO 1st to 10th

Computer, music, yoga

30

35 VKG blind school afzalpur Gulbarga

MG Nagar, Datargaroad, Afzalpur taluk Kalburgi- 585301

9972609818

7353428074

NGO 1st to 10th, music, yoga

36 Snehajyothi Training center For Physically Challenged & Blinds Belgaum

Sattiroad, Atani Belgaum-591304

Sr. Vincent Kiran Office M : 09900617727 Mob: 08861375544 Emil:[email protected]

NGO Distance Education of SSLC, PUC and Degree and Music computer Literacy, Etc.,

Hostel services for studying and working persons with visual disability

Sl. No.

Name & place of the Hostel Address & Contact details Men/Women Intact Accommodation

Capacity

1 Jyothi Seva Home, Bangalore

Jyothi Seva Society,

1st Main Road, 3rd Cross, Venkateshpura, Bangalore - 560 045.

Ph. No: 25477972 (Office) / 25433365 - School

Email ID : [email protected]

College going girls 15

2 Sahana Charitable Trust for the Disabled

Bangalore

# 1101, 10th Main, RPC Layout,

Vijayanagar, 2nd Stage, Bangalore – 560 040. Tel.No. : 080 – 2311 6699 / 2314 6716. E-mail ID: [email protected] ok

Women’s

25

2222222

3 Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled,

Bangalore

No.11, Villa Suchitha, 1st Cross, 17th ‘A’ Main, Behind Giri Apartments, J.P. Nagar 2nd Phase, Bangalore – 560 078 Phone No.: 26591488 / 26592999 Email: Abdul 9449864770 [email protected] Website: www.samarthanam.org ok

Separate hostel for both men and women / working and studies

400

4 Snehadeep Trust Bangalore

#36,Charles cambels road, cox town. Bangalore - 560005 Ph - 08025801069 Mob: 09449021997 email: [email protected] [email protected]

Separate for Both men and women / working and studies

60

5 Government hostel for working and studying women with disability Bangalore

Bande Matta, Komugatta Road, KengeriUpanagara, Jnanabharathi (Post), Bangalore- 560060 Ph: 080-22719192 M: 9900281688 (Parvathamma)

Women 50(now staying 17 members)

31

6 Govt. Hostel for Working and Studying Men with disability

Bangalore

#42/10, Ring Road, Nagadevanahalli, Bande Matta, Kengeri Upanagara, Jnanabharathi (Post), Bangalore- 560056 Ph: 080-22719192 M: 9900281688

Men 50

7 AWAKE VISHWA SEVA FOUNDATION

Bangalore

AWAKE VISHWA SEVA FOUNDATION(R)

#97, 4th Main Road,Rangappa layout, BSK 3rd stage, Bangalore-85

PH;080-49557680 +91 96203 69680 Email : [email protected] Web site : www.awakevishwaseva.org

Studying Girls and boys

Now blinds staying 30 members

8 MitraJyothi Trust for Disables

Bangalore

C.A.Site No. P-22, HSR Layout, Sector-1, 31st Main, 18th Cross, Behind NIFT Bangalore – 560102

Tele. No. 080-22587623 Mobile No – 9900517293/ 9900192609

Email : [email protected]

Website : www.mitrajyothi.org

Working women Total 50,now blinds staying 40

members.

9 Chikkenakoppada Sree Chennaveera Sharanaandara Kalyanaasrama, Hubli

Navanagara, Hubli-580025

Ph-0836-22251511

Manager, Hiremutt - 8762104680

Studying boys 100 (Blind 24 student)

10 Prerana Trust for Disabled

Mandya

Kempeagowda Road, Swarnasandra Mandya – 571402 Ph-08232-231132 9844083196 [email protected]

Hostel for school and college going girls and boys with all Type of disabilities including V.I

Present strength of VI -22

11 Divya jyothi charitable trust

Mysore

#151/F Bapuji Children’s Home campus. 4th Cross, Gokulam 3rd Stage, Mysore - 570002 Land line 0821-2510129 Shivaprakash M: 9886409563 [email protected] www.divyajyothitrust.org

NGO

Hostel service for college going girls & Boys, Trainees, Working Persons

12 Sree Narayana Dhama Adichunchanagiri shakamatta)

Bangalore North

Kudurugere, Dasanapurahobli, Bangalore north - 562123

7899100848

[email protected]

(NGO)

Hostel facility for Blind student, but Music learning is compulsory.

13 Siddratha Rehabilitation &Training Centre Badravathi

#G-\4(T),Newtown Badravathi-577301

M: 07892586733.

Hostel for college going students

32

Various Professional and Vocational Training programmes in Public and private sector

Sl. No

Name & place of the institution

Address and contact details Status Training programmes

1 Bhartimeaus Resource Centre for Visually Impaired ( B.R.C.V.I.) Bangalore

90/1, Mother Teresa layout, Near Guddi Cross, Kannur post. B’lore - 49 Land mark: opposite Army Hotel Management College. Mobile number-9620027815 Email: [email protected] & [email protected]

NGO Training of mobility and orientation, spoken English,

pre school training.

Cooking training, computer, and Braille reading\writing.

2 Enable India

Bangalore

#473/B, Adugodi Main Road, Koramangala 8th Block, Bangalore 560095. Landmark: More Super Market Phone No. : 08067323636 E-mail ID : [email protected] Web: www.enable-india.org

NGO Various types of computer application courses, job specific skill development training, spoken English training.

3 IDL Foundation

Bangalore

IDL FOUNDATION & IDL BLIND BAND, No.28, Opposite to Sriniket Apartment, M.S. Ramaiah Engineering College Road, 1st Cross, Mathikere, Bangalore - 560 054. 9972425267, Ph.2360 8787 / 41282413 email: [email protected] email: shiny@idlfou

NGO English speaking course, training of music and dance, computer training.

14 Gnanajyothi Trust for disabled persons, Bengaluru

Gnanajyothi CA site No. 2, Syndicate bank colony, Near Kamakshipalya police station, Magadi Main Road, Bengaluru – 560079 080-23485848 Mobile: 9342950586 Mobile: 9019883188 E-mail:[email protected] Website: www.saignanajyothi.org.in

Hostel for college going and working women

40

15 IDL Foundation

Bangalore

IDL FOUNDATION & IDL BLIND BAND, No.28, Opposite to Sriniket Apartment, M.S. Ramaiah Engineering College Road, 1st Cross, Mathikere, Bangalore-560 054. 9972425267 Ph.2360 8787 / 41282413 email: [email protected] email: shiny@idlfou

Hostel for college going boys and girls

70

33

4 Mitra Jyothi Trust for Disables

Bangalore

C.A.Site No. P-22, HSR Layout, Sector-1, 31st Main, 18th Cross, Behind NIFT Bangalore –560102, 080-22587623 Tele. Nos. – 25727623/ 624/625 Mobile no – 9900517293/ 9900192609 Email : [email protected]

Website : www.mitrajyothi.org

NGO Various type of Basic and professional Computer courses, home management course for women.

5 Mobility Training Centre for the Blind

Mangalore

Child & Family Welfare Centre Building 7th Cross, N.G. Road, Attavar, Mangalore – 575 001 9743391152 What,s app - 8050510762 Ph No. : 0824 – 2416017

NGO Training of mobility and orientation, skill development training in various states such as re-caning, doll making, tailoring, paper cover making, door mat making, candle making

6 National Association for the Blind

Karnataka Branch

Bangalore

NAB Rehabilitation Complex, C.A. Site No. 4, NAB Road, Jeevan Bima Nagar, Bangalore – 560 075

Contact Details: Ph: 25281590 / 25289939 / 25280740 Fax: 25281439 Email: [email protected] Website: www.nabkarnataka.org

NGO Training courses of mobility and orientation, Computer applications, rehabilitation and technical industrial training.


Industrial Training Centre for the Blind. & Deaf,

Mysore

Shed No. c/177/178, Industrial Estate, Yadavgiri, Mysore – 570 020. Karnataka.

Contact Details : Ph No. :(O) 0821-2514431 Sreenivash, Manager 9900372254 [email protected]

NGO Industrial training in various states like Engineering, Assembling, Packaging, Plastic Molding, Re-canning, and Coir mat making, Electrician, Screen printing etc.

8 PanditPuttaraj Gawai Trust for disabled ®

Bangalore

#720, Behind Ambabhavani Temple, 58 Cross, 1st stage, Kumarswamy layout, Bangalore-560078 Ph : 080-26661323 Mob:9448706585 [email protected]

NGO Training of music including vocal and instrumental , Music residential facility girls school, Accommodation facility 10 members, Now staying 08 members.

9 Prerana Resource Centre

Bangalore

Prerana Resource Centre # 6,7th main, 1st Cross, 3rd Block, Sonnappa Road, Goragunte Palya, Bangalore - 560 022.

Contact Details: Tel. No. 2357 3705 E-mail ID: [email protected]

Website: www.prc.co.in

NGO Training in Mobility / orientation, daily living skills, and employable industrial skills.

10 Sahana Charitable Trust for the Disabled

Bangalore

# 1101, 10th Main, RPC Layout, Vijayanagar, 2nd Stage, Bangalore – 560 040. Tel. No. : 080 – 2311 6699 / 2314 6716. E-mail: [email protected] www.Sahanacharitabletrust.org

NGO Carrier centric computer operation course, English speaking course,

34

11 Samarthanam Trust for the Disabled

Bangalore

Address: No.11, Villa Suchitha, 1st Cross, 7th ‘A’ Main, Behind Giri Apartments, J.P. Nagar 2nd Phase, Bangalore – 560 078 Phone No.: 26591488 / 26592999 Email: [email protected] Website: www.samarthanam.org

NGO Training in various Computer operations, entrepreneurship training and call center profession.

12 Shree Ramana Maharishi Academy for the Blind ®

Bangalore

SRMAB, 3rd Cross, 3rd Phase, J.P. Nagar, Bangalore – 560 078. Karnataka.

Contact Details Ph No. :(O) 080 – 26581076/ 26580325 (Fax) 080 – 26588045 E-mail ID: [email protected] & [email protected]

NGO Diploma and special education, training in rural domestic income generation activities,2 years Agriculture training for VI, MR, MI persons,& Formal school Pre To 10th std.

13 Karnataka welfare association for the blind Bangalore

# 69, 14th Main, Nehru Nagar, Sheshadripuram, Bangalore- 560 020 Ph: +080- 23369703 /23345118 E-mail: [email protected]

NGO Computer operation course, English speaking course, mobility \orientation\Braille

14 Snehadeep

Bangalore

#44. Charles cambels Road, Cox Town, Bangalore - 560005 Ph-08025801069 Mob: 09449021997 email: [email protected] [email protected]

NGO Computer operation course, English speaking course

15 Hellen Keller Teachers training center

Mysore-

Pulakeshi Nagar, Tilaknagara, Bamboo bazar Road, School for blind Children Campus, Mysore- 21 Ph 0821-2491600

Annapurna E-mail : [email protected]

Govt. Diploma and special education, training in rural domestic income generation activities.


Mysore

#151/F Bapuji Children’s Home campus. 4thcross.gokulam 3rd stage, Mysore-570002 Land line 0821-2510129

Shivaprakash M: 9886409563 [email protected] www.divyajyothitrust.org

NGO Computer operation course ,Braille library,

17 JSS Polytechnic Mysore

JSS Technical Institution’s Campus, SJCE Campus, ManasaGangothri, MYSORE-570 006 ,Karnataka State, INDIA. Phone:0821-2548315 Step-0821-2548321 Telefax: 0821 - 2548319 Email: [email protected]

NGO After SSLC 3 Years Computer Application Diploma Training.

35

Sources of reading material in accessible formats in public and private sector across the state

Sl. No.

Name and place Contact details Status Remarks

1 National Federation of the Blind Karnataka, Bangalore

#S-372, Bharat Nagar 2nd phase Near Karnataka Bank , Magadi Main Road Bangalore - 560091 email: [email protected] www.nfbkarnataka.org Ph. No: 080-23484794 Mob: 9916368800 / 8197900171

NGO Braille cum talking library containing text books/ reference books / general books in Kannada and English language and distributor of Braille books of NIVH in Kannada and English

2 Braille Transcription Unit of Canara Bank Relief & Welfare Society,

Bangalore

Canara Bank Relief & Welfare Society, 27th Cross, Banashankari 2ndStage, Bangalore - 600 070.

Tel. No. 080- 26713421 (Manager) Website : www.matruchhaya.org

NGO Supply of educational, reference and general books to cater the individual needs.

3 Gnanajyothi Trust for disabled persons,

Bengaluru

Gnanajyothi CA site No. 2, Syndicate bank colony, Near Kamakshipalya police station, Magadi Main Road, Bengaluru – 560079 080-23485848 Mobile: 9342950586 Mobile: 9019883188 Email : [email protected] web ID: www.saignanajyothi.org.in

NGO To cater the needs of school and college going students through manual and computerized brailing, General Books & Academic Books.

18 Siddratha Rehabilitation &Training Centre

Badravathi

#G-\4(T), Newtown Badravathi-577301

M: 07892586733.

NGO Computer Training, Brailler Typewriter Training, Chair making & Hostel Facility For College Going Students & Free Bus pass, Train pass Facility given.

19 Santhrupthi blind samsthe

Davanagere

KEB colony, 1st turn, TB Crcle, Devanayakanahalli, Honnalli, Davanagere

9916075752/ 7483282767/ 9449288124 [email protected]

Industrial training, music training, Hostel facility for men & women students

36

4 Mitrajyothi Bangalore

C.A. Site No. P-22, 31st main, 18th cross, HSR Layout, Sector-1, Behind NIFT College, Bangalore – 560102

Tele. Nos. : +91-80-22587623 /24 /25 Mobile No : +91-9900192609 Email : [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.mitrajyothi.org

NGO Full-fledged Braille printing press for printing of Braille books in large volume and digital library for making available wide range of audio and E-books

5 Sahana Charitable Trust Bangalore

# 1101, 10th Main, RPC Layout, Vijayanagar, 2nd Stage, Bangalore – 560 040. Tel. No. : 080 – 2311 6699 / 2314 6716. E-mailID: [email protected] www.sahanacharitabletrust.org

NGO supply of study material for school and college going students on request,

Through computerized Braille embosser.

6 Sneha deep trust

Bangalore

#44. Charles Cambels Road, Cox Town. Bangalore - 560005 Ph-08025801069 Mob: +91-94490-21997 E-mail: [email protected] Web address: www.snehadeep.org.in

NGO Prints Braille reading material for school and college going students on request

7 Braille Center of Bangalore University

Bangalore

Bangalore University Central College Campus

Bangalore -560001 Ph-080-22961295 9886257668

Government Prints study material for students of Bangalore university.


Mysore

#151/F. 4th cross, Gokulam 3rd stage , Mysore - 570002 Bapuji Children’s Home Campus Land line 0821-2510129 Shivaprakash M: 9886409563 [email protected] www.divyajyothitrust.org

NGO Prints and supplies text books for school and college going students on request.

College audio books.

Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and

better than your current situation - Brian Tracy

37

Other services

With the view to address various special needs of persons with visual disability and for their equalization some other services are also available to them by different agencies in public and private sector across the state.

Some notable services are as under:

Sl. No. Name & Place Contact Details Key services Status of the organization

1 National Federation of the Blind Karnataka, Bangalore

#S-373, Bharat Nagar 2nd phase Near Karnataka Bank , Magadi Main Road Bangalore - 560091 email : [email protected] Web : www.nfbkarnataka.org Ph. No: 080-23484794 Mob: 9980444655 / 9916368800 / 8197900171

State level Braille cum talking library

Aids and appliances supply service,

Information and counseling,

JOB Alert SMS service, advocacy / lobbying for protection and promotion of rights of visually challenged persons.

NGO

2 Anthardristi Centre for the Blind

Bangalore

Premaanjali Educational Trust (Regd).

#20, 1st A Cross,17th A Main, J. P. Nagar 2nd Phase Bangalore-78 Ph: 080-26590682. M : 9036341470 LandMark: Central Or Croma Showroom. [email protected]

Digital library, supply of study material in accessible format , Resource room for study , equip with accessible computers internet and scanning facilities , arranging scribes, for visually impaired for various exams, helping visually impaired persons in filing their online applications for various competitive exams

NGO

3 Enable India Bangalore

#473/B, Adugodi Main Road, Koramangala 8th Block, Bangalore - 560095. Landmark: More Super Market Phone No. : 08067323636 M:9845313919. E-mail ID : [email protected] Web: www.enable-india.org

Placement cell for enabling visually challenged individual to find suitable jobs in corporate sector

NGO

4 MitraJyothi

Bangalore

C.A. Site No. P 22, 31 st Main, 18 th Cross, HSR Layout, Sector I, Behind NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) Bangalore: 560102 Phone: 080-22587623/24 Website: www.mitrajyothi.org Email: [email protected]

Digital talking library,

Placement cell for assisting visually challenged persons in finding suitable job in private sector

NGO

5 Office of state commissioner for persons with disability Bangalore

Karnataka Slum Development Board Building, AbhayaSankeerna, 2nd Floor, No.55, Risaldar Street (Plat Form Road), Sheshadripuram, Bangalore-560 020.

Phone No: 91-80-23462659/23462625 Email: [email protected] Web ID:www.scd.kar.nic.in/contact_us.asp

Information and counseling service Govt

38

6 VVN Degree College Bangalore

Scribe Bank

Officer : Prof. Prasanna Udipikar Mob. : 09449800783

Providing scribes to visually impaired examinees for writing their exams & support to various activities of empowering visually impaired students.

NGO

7 Pen Volunteers Group of Scribe

Bangalore

Co – Ordinator : Mr. Surender Mob.: 08892839840 [email protected]

Providing scribes to visually impaired examinees for writing their exams

Recording books for student in Kannada, English, Hindi, & Tamil.

NGO

8 Directorate for Empowerment of Differently abled and Senior Citizen

Bangalore

Co-Ordinator : Mr. Amarnath Podium block, Visweswaraiah Centre, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Veedhi, Bangalore – 560 001 PH. Tel : 080-22866066, 22866046\22860907 Fax- 22868347 E-Mail- [email protected] Web Link – www.welfareofdisabled.kar.nic.in

Information and guidance service cell

Govt.

9 Amrithabindu Bangalore scribe

Co-ordianatorAkshata and Prashant

Mob: 9483457417 Prashant – 8553840709

Providing scribes to visually impaired examinees for writing their exams &Help Blind Poor Children & Hospitalization person.

NGO

10 Information and Rehabilitation Center NIMHANS

Outpatient department, Hosur Road, <[email protected]>

<[email protected]> Dr. Shivakumar –9379488666

In addition to treatment and rehabilitation of mentally ill persons.

Govt.

11 Youth for Seva

Bangalore

‘Jnanagiri’, #75/76, 4th cross, 2nd main, Soudhamini layout, Konanakunte, opp Soudhamini Choultri, Bangalore – 560062

Mob: 7349246274 Email: [email protected]

It service activities includes providing volunteers for the events of the organizations, scribe for visually impaired examinees and recording of books for various institution and V.I. Individuals.

NGO

Failure is again another opportunity to begin again more intelligently

- Henry Ford

39

Sl. no Name of the institute Working/training/studying women

Intact capacity

No. of V.I. Inmates

Contact person

1 Dr. Ambedkar cultural & welfare society

Bidar

41 50 Nil Anilkumar - 9448258667

2 Basaveshwara Institute Chitradurga

27 Nil Shankar VK - 9738766709

08194-221764.

3 Vinayaka education society Chamarajanagara

36 50 12 Prathimaguruswamy - 9916876587

4 Surabhi womens club - Shivmoga

48 50 5 Sheela patil-7829999118-

5 Samagrajeevana vikasa Institute

Bagalkote

36 3 Udupudi MV - 9845298041

08354-233524 [email protected]

6 Shwetha institute

Hassan

40 Murali- Current Contact details is not available so District disabled Welfare office may be contacted for having the contact details

Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

District Admin office, 9th Cross, K.R.Puram, Hassan - 573201.

Ph: 08172-264546 / M:9448772080 Mail: [email protected]

7 Mahadevi tai women’s vidyavardaka sangha

Gulbarga

40 Vimala - Current Contact details is not available so District disabled Welfare office may be contacted for having the contact details

Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department,

Government Blind School compound, 1st floor, opp. District stadium, Gulbarga

Ph: 08472-255629 / M:9740345276

Mail: [email protected]

[email protected]

8 Dr. Ambedkar Institute Belagavi

22 50 Nil Mahaningappa - 9483317700,

List of District Level Hostel for Working and Studying Women with Disability in Karnataka

40

9 Ashakiran Education & Rehabilitations Institute Kolara

45 6 Nagarajaiya VM-08158-55600-M:9449314250

10 Ishwarya Womens Club Bijapur

50 50 Nil Rashmi - 08352-278163

11 Sri Mukkaneshwara Education Trust Ballary

33 50 Nil Swamiji- 7259690009

12 Sarvodhaya Service Society Bangalore Rural

85 85 Nil M:9880943056

M:9342070731

13 Kalleshwara Gamena institute Haveri

22 Nil Dyananda - 8123442273

14 Divyajyothi vidya Institute Koppala

35 50 Nil Dayananda - 8123442273

15 Vishwadharma Womens & Children Institute Hubbali

39 Nil Lakkundi IK - 9535701627

16 Bhaghavanbudha Institute Mandya

34 Siddaraj - 9845565414

Pavitra - 9008924413.

17 JSS Mysore

51 50 20 Shivalingayya - 9740597011

18 AkkaMahadevi Institute 45 50 2 Rachappa - 9480371134

19 Sri Shathashrunga Institute Bangalore

51 Current Contact details is not available so District disabled Welfare office may be contacted for having the contact details

Office of Deputy Director, Women & Child Development Department, NearKidwai Hospital, Hosur Road, Bangalore -29

Ph: 080-26577411 M:9980676844\9880118995. Email: [email protected]

20 Ambigara Chowdaiya Institute Tumkur

25 50 Nil Vishwanath - 9743168511

21 Vinayaka Education Society Ramanagara

43 Nil Swamy - 9916876587

22 Vishwavajyothi Vidya Samsthe Yadagiri

28 Nil Basavanagowda M Patil - 8884108999

M:9483885544

23 Intigrated Foundation Chikkaballapura

40 50 2 Sowmya TJ - 9900290491

PH: 08156-270326

24 Vidyaranya Institute Bangalore

100 200 Metnal only

Ramesh MC - 9343207349

PH: 080-28470731

25 Samarthanam Institute Bangalore

450 30 Sathish - 9449864688/9449864780

080-25721444

26 Vinayaka Education Society - Bangalore

28 50 12 Guruswamy - 9916876587

41

Sl. No. Name of the Service Contact detail Description Status

1 Department of empowerment of persons with disability under ministry of social justice and empowerment

5th Floor Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex, Lodhi Road New Delhi - 110003 (India)

Phone : 24369055(Off.) Email : [email protected]

Web- www.disabilityaffair.gov.in

The nodal department of central government for formulation, execution and monitoring all rules, policies, programmes and schemes for holistic development for persons with disability

Public sector, Govt. of India

2 Office of The Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities

Government of India

Sarojini House, 6, Bhagwan Dass Road, New Delhi Mail: [email protected] Ph: 23383907, Fax: 23386006 www.ccdisabilities.nic.in

The Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities has been set up under Section 57 of the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights & Full Participation) Act, 1995 and has been mandated to take steps to safeguard the rights of persons with disabilities.

Public Authority Government of India

3 Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI), New Delhi

B-22, Qutub Institutional Area, New Delhi – 110 016

Tel. 011-26532408, 26532384, 26534287, Fax-011-2653 4291

E-mail: [email protected] [email protected] Web: www.rehabcouncil.nic.in

The Rehabilitation Council India was constituted for regulating and monitoring the training of Rehabilitation professionals and personnel, promoting research in rehabilitation and special education, the maintenance of a Central Rehabilitation Register and related matters.

Public Authority Government of India

4 National Trust for the Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities, New Delhi

16B, Bada Bazar Road, Old Rajinder Nagar New Delhi - 110060

E-Mail: [email protected]

Telephone: 011-43187878

Fax: 011-43187878

The main objectives of the National Trust are to enable and empower persons with disabilities to live as independently and as fully as possible, to extend support to registered organizations providing need based services, and to evolve procedure for appointment of legal guardians for persons with disabilities requiring such protection.

Public authority government of India

Authorities and Institutions of Government of India in Service of Persons with Disability

Below listed authorities, organizations and institutions of public and private sector offers various specific and unique services for the persons with disability in general and visually challenged in particular

42

The Government of India has provided Rs.100 crores toward the corpus of the Trust. The income generated from the corpus is utilized to implement its programmes.

The State Nodal Agency Centres (SNACs) provide coordination assistance at the State level to enable the National Trust to implement its programmes, disseminate information and train parents and professionals. The SNACs function as Information Centres, facilitators, project mentors, training centers, LLC activators and networkers.

5 Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped (AYJNIHH)

K.C. Marg, Bandra (W) Reclamation Mumbai - 400 050 Phone : 022-26400215/26409176/26400263 :

Fax : 022-26404170 E-mail : [email protected]

Web: www.ayjnihh.nic.in

The Ali Yavar Jung National Institute is for the Hearing Handicapped was under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 under administrative control of department for empowerment persons with disability The Institute has been established for manpower development, research, clinical and therapeutic services, outreach and extension services for the persons with hearing disabilities.

The Institute is responsible for development of manpower by undertaking or sponsoring the training of trainees and teachers, employment officers, psychologists, vocational counselors and such other personnel as may be deemed necessary by the Institute for promoting the education, training or rehabilitation of the hearing handicapped. The Institute sponsors, coordinates and subsidizes research into all aspects of the education and rehabilitation of the hearing handicapped. It is also developing model services for rehabilitation of the hearing handicapped.

Public sector Government of India

43

6 National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD) Chennai

East Coast Road, Muttukadu, Kovalam Post Chennai - 603112, Tamil Nadu, India.

Tel: 044- 27472113, 27472046 Fax: 044- 27472389

Email: niepmd(at)gmail[dot]com Website: www.niepmd.tn.nic.in

The Government has set up this new Institute at the total project cost of Rs.61.90 crores comprising of land cost of Rs.39.20 crores (notional), non-recurring cost of Rs.18.10 crores and a recurring cost of Rs. 4.60 crores. Government of Tamil Nadu has provided the land for this Institute. Government of India is providing the financial support for construction of the building of the Institute and other activities. The Institute has started clinical services and short-term training programmes for caregivers from July 2005.

Public sector GOI

7 Swami Vivekananda National Institute of Rehabilitation, Training & Research (SVNIRTAR), Cuttack

Olatpur, P.O : Bairoi Dist: Cuttack Odisha Phone No.- 0671-2805552 FAX No.- 0671-2805862 Website:-http://www.svnirtar.nic.in. Email:- [email protected], [email protected],[email protected]

NIRTAR, originally, started as an adjunct Unit of ALIMCO, Kanpur, The aims and objectives of the Institute are human resources development, implementation of service delivery programmes, research and outreach programmes.

It undertakes, sponsors or coordinates training for rehabilitation personnel and conducts research on bio-medical engineering and surgical or medical subjects for orthopedically handicapped. The Institute produces and distributes aids and appliances. It develops models of service delivery programmes for rehabilitation. NIRTAR also undertakes vocational training, placement and rehabilitation of the physically handicapped.

Public sector GOI

8 National Institute for Orthopedically Handicapped (NIOH), Kolkata

B T Road, Bonhooghly, Kolkata - 700 090 Phone : 033-2531 1248 : Fax : 033-25318379 E-mail : [email protected], [email protected]

Web: www.niohkol.nic.in

The mission of the Institute is to develop human resources for providing rehabilitation services to persons with locomotor disabilities, providing of services in rehabilitation, restorative surgery, aids/appliances etc.

The Institute is responsible for development of manpower for providing services, namely, training of physiotherapists, occupational therapists, orthotics and prosthetic technicians, employment and placement officers etc. NIOH also develops model services in the areas of restorative surgery, aids and appliances, vocational training etc.

Public Sector GOI

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for the orthopedically handicapped population. It conducts and sponsors research in all aspects, relating to the total rehabilitation of the orthopedically handicapped people and is involved with standardizing aids and appliances for the orthopedically handicapped and promoting their manufacture and distribution.

9 National Institute for empowerment of persons with Visually disability (NIEPVD), Dehradun

116 Rajpur Road, Dehradun – 248001 Uttarakhand Telephone No. – (0135) 2735350 Fax : (0135) 2734157

Web: www.nivh.gov.in

The objective of the Institute is to conduct, sponsor and coordinate all aspects of education for rehabilitation of persons with visual disabilities and coordinate research in these areas. The Institutes also assisted in running a Composite Regional Centre (CRC) for persons with disabilities at Sundernagar in Himachal Pradesh.

This apex level Institute is engaged in education, vocational training, training of teachers and other personnel, research and development of service modules, production of Braille books, aids and appliances for the visually handicapped.

Public sector

GOI

10 National Institute of Mentally Handicapped (NIMH), Secundrabad

Manovikas nagar, Secunderabad, AP-5600009

Ph No-091402775

www.nimhindia.gov.in

The Institute has been established with the objective to prepare human resources equipped to deliver services through quality models of rehabilitation, based on life cycle needs.

The National Institute for the Mentally Handicapped (NIMH) is committed to develop models of care for the mentally handicapped persons, conduct research in the area of mental handicap, and promote human resource development to work with mentally handicapped persons in the country.

Public sector GOI

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11 Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Institute for the Physically Handicapped (IPH), New Delhi

4, Vishnu Digamber Marg, Connaught Place, Near Balbaban, New Delhi, Delhi 110002

Ph. No.011- 23233782, 23233672

Web: www.iphnewdelhi.in

The major objective of the Institute is to develop trained manpower for rehabilitation of persons with orthopaedically disabled persons, provide outreach services and research.

The Institute offers education, training, work-adjustment and such other rehabilitative services as the society may deem fit to orthopaedically handicapped persons with associated mental retardation or such other associated handicaps as are not considered incompatible with the development of a harmonious educational, training or workshop programme. IPH also undertakes the training of physiotherapists and occupational therapists. Besides it has a facility for manufacture and distribution of such aids and appliances as are needed for the education, training and rehabilitation of the handicapped.

Public Sector GOI

12 Indian Spinal Injury Centre (ISIC)

Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, Sector C, Vasant Kunj, Opp. Vasant Valley, School, New Delhi, Delhi 110070

Ph: 011-42255225

Web: [email protected]

The Indian Spinal Injury Centre (ISIC), New Delhi, a Non-government Organisation, provides comprehensive rehabilitation management services to patients with spinal cord injuries and related ailments. These include intervention in the form of reconstructive surgery, stabilization operations, physical rehabilitation, psycho-social rehabilitation and vocational rehabilitation services.

The Government supports the ISIC to provide 25 free beds daily for treatment of poor patients. Besides, the Centre provides 5 free beds to such patients.

PPP GOI

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13 National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC), Faridabad

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry, PHD House, 4/2 Siri Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg, New Delhi-110 016

Ph: 011-45088636

Web: www.nhfdc.nic.in

The National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) is a wholly owned company by Government of India. NHFDC functions as an Apex institution for extending financial support for education, employment and entrepreneurship of the persons with disabilities through the State Channelizing Agencies (SCAs) nominated by the State Government(s). Prominent schemes being implemented by NHFDC are given below in brief:

Financial Assistance in the form of Education Loan Education loan is given for pursuing higher education in India and abroad. All courses having employment prospects i.e. Graduation courses/ Post graduation courses/Professional courses and other courses approved by UGC/Government/AICTE etc. are eligible. Maximum amount of loan is Rs.10.00 lakh for courses within India and Rs.20.00 lakh for courses abroad. The rate of interest is 4% per annum, a rebate of 0.5% on interest is allowed to women beneficiaries. The repayment would commence one year after completion of course or 6 months after securing a job, whichever is earlier. The maximum repayment period is 7 years after commencement of repayment.

Public sector

GOI

14 Artificial Limbs Manufacturing Corporation of India (ALIMCO)

G.T. Road, Kanpur – 209217 Ph.: 91-512-2770873, 2770687, 2770817 Fax: 91-512-2770617, 2770051, 2770123 Toll Free No. 1800-180-5129 Web : http://www.alimco.in E-mail: [email protected]

The company manufactures and distributes various types of most cost effective ISI marked Assistive Devices, on mass scale.

Public sector under taking GOI

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Education

A. “Scheme of Scholarships”

The Students with all type of disabilities in Karnataka, who pursue their education in a main stream educational institution, are awarded with a scholarship of 10 months in each academic year. Office of District disabled Welfare in each District may be contacted for application form and other necessary informations.

As per the Government order No. WG CHW: 293: PHP: 2013, Bangalore Dated 01.02.2014 the current effective rates of monthly Scholarship for Visually Impaired Students are as under.

Course Rate of Scholarship

Reader Allowance

1st – 5th Std. 100 25

6th – 10th Std. 200 25

P.U.C. 300 75

Degree/TCH 400 75

BE/MBBS/LLB 500 100

M.A./M. Sc/M.Com/LLM & Equivalent

600 100

B. Prize money Scheme for meritorious Students with Disability

In order to recognize and encourage the academic ability of disable students, the state Govt., offers a cash prize to those disable students who secure more than 60% marks in public Examinations such as S.S.L.C, P.U.C, Graduation & Post Graduation.

As per the Government order No. WG CHW: 324: PHP: 2013, Bangalore Dated 05.02.2014 and G.O. no.: WG CHW: 324 PHP: 2013, Bangalore dated 08.05.2014 the Amount of cash prize for various examinations are as follows

Assistance by the State Government for Empowerment of Persons with Disability

(a) SSLC Rs. 3000/-

(b) PUC Rs. 5000/-

(c) Degree / TCH Rs. 8000/-

(d) Post Graduate Degrees like M.A./M.Com./ M.Sc. etc.

Rs. 10000/-

(e) PG in Medicine, PG in Engineer-ing and Agricultural

Rs. 12000/-

Application for these awards are called for by the Asst, Director Dept of Women and Child Development in every District preferably in the month of September every Year.

C. Reservation of Seats for Disabled Students in Educational Institutions

In term of Sec.39 of persons with disabilities(equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) Act 1995, The State Government has reserved 3% seats for disable students including blind in all educational institutions of the Govt and those who receive financial aid from the State Govt.

The provisions of this reservation cover all courses and faculties of schools, Colleges and Universities.

Please refer the following G.O for more information

G.O. No.: ED U.G.C.99 Dated 03.06.1999

However in term of sec.32 of right to persons with disability act 2016 in all government institution of higher education and other higher education institutions receiving aid from the government, reservation quota of seats has been enhanced from 3% to 5%. The appropriate G.O. of this mandatory provision is yet to be issued by the competent

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authoritiy of the state government.

D. 5% reservation for admission in pre university courses:-

As per the extract from the prospectus for admission and other activities in 1st year and 2nd year of pre university education, the 5% seats have been reserved for persons with disability in all courses of pre university colleges.

The secondary education examination board and department of colligate education have granted following facilities to V.I. Students in their respective examinations.

A. The visually impaired students are allowed to appoint scribe for writing their answers in all public exams at school, college and university level.

B. The scribe of visually impaired examinees may be senior to the examinee Provided that the faculty of both shouldn’t be same. For example a student of Msc. may write the examination of blind examinee of B.A or B. Com.,

C. One hour extra time is given to blind examinee in all public exams of 3 hours.

D. The blind students are allowed to choose optional subjects in place of maths and science at secondary school level.

Following G.O. may be referred to know more about the facilities to V.I. Students in exams.

G.O. No. A8/SSLC Notification/April -2016/2015-16 dtd 19.8.2015

G.O. No. Vide: ED 42 TPU 2004 dtd. 26.3.2004

ED 15 U.N.E 2004 dtd. 5.3.2004

F. Reimbursement of Admission, Tuition, Examination and other fees / charges to student with disabilities.

In term of its G.O. no.: WG CHW: 271 PHP: 2013, Bangalore dated 03.09.2013, the state govt. reimburse all fees and charges paid by the students with disability to their respective educational institutions after SSLC such as admission , tuition, examinations, lab, library, sports fees/charges,

The scheme is implemented by district disable welfare offices at each district

G. special facilities to the school going children with special needs

The state project director for Sarvashiksha Abhiyan and Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA/RMSA) respectively deals with special needs of visually challenged children who are enrolled in government schools.

The special facilities extended to the visually challenged students include providing Braille text books to each blind child for 1st to 10th standard, Braille learning/writing aids, assistive educational and mobility devices, monthly transport allowance of Rs.250/- for regular attendance at school and so on.

The state project Director (SSA) and District offices of SSA in each district may be approach to understand and avail the benefit of various special schemes of children with special needs.

H. Age relaxation for admission in higher education

Sub sec.2 of sec. 32B obligated every institution of higher education to give an upper age relaxation of 5 years to students with bench mark disability in admission. The competent authorities of the state government are yet to notify this provision by appropriate G.O.

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I. Duties of Educational institutions

As per the sec.16 of new Right to persons with disability act 2016, it would be mandatory for all those educational institutions who are funded or recognized by the state government or local authority to give admission to the child with disability without any discrimination and provide education and opportunities for sports and recreational activities equally with others.

EMPLOYMENT

The key initiatives of the state government for employment and economic independents of persons with disabilities may be illustrated as follows:

1. Reservation of Jobs in group A & B:-

In term of government order bearing No. DPAR 50 SRR 2000, dated 17th August 2005, 3% horizontal reservation has been given to the persons with disability in direct recruitment of all those jobs in group A & B which are identified as suitable for them of which 1% for each among :

a. Blind or Low Vision, b. Hearing Impaired, c. Locomotor disability or cerebral palsy.

However the sec.34 of new “Right to persons with disability act 2016” obligates the state government to increase the quantum of reservation into 3% to 4% of which 1% each shall be

a. Blindness and low vision

b. Hearing impaired

c. Locomotor Disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victim and muscular dystrophy

d. Autism, Intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness.

e. Multiple disabilities from amongst persons under clauses (A to D) including deaf blindness

It is yet to be notified by the state government

2. Job reservation in Group C & D:-

5% horizontal reservation is given to persons with disability in direct recruitment in group C & D vacancies.

As per the latest G.O. of DPAR 128 SNN 2006 dt. 1-08-2009, 5% job reservation is sub-divided in different categories of disability as under:

Blind/low vision – 2%

Hearing impaired – 1%

O H– 1%

Leprosy Cured / MR/MI/MD- 1%

3. Allocation of Roaster Points for Implementation of horizontal reservation.

As the reservation for persons with disability is horizontal in nature, so the separate roaster point have been allocated to each category of disability in 100 point roaster for due implementation of their reservation quota. As per the latest G.O. DPAR 53 SNN 2007 dt. 4.1.2008 and No.823 DPAR dtd. 10.06.2013

given roaster points are as under:

Group A & B

Blind / low vision – 4 Hearing impaired – 44 Locomotor disability or cerebral palsy - 84

Group C & D Blind / Low vision – 4 & 24 Hearing impaired – 44 OH – 64 Others – 84.

4. Relaxation in upper age limit for Government Jobs:

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Relaxation of 10 years is granted to the persons with disability in upper age limit to join the government service. Please refer the extract from Karnataka Civil Services (General Recruitment) Rules 1977, (As on February 2006) (Amendment upto December 2005 incorporated).

5. Provision of scribe for writing the exam of blind/low vision candidates in competitive exams of Govt. of Karnataka:

In term of Government order No: CASE 74 SNN 2006 DTD 30.10.2007, the Karnataka public service commission (KPSC) allows blind / low vision candidates to take the help of a scribe for writing their competitive exams.

As per the said G.O. extra time of 10 minutes per hour is also granted to the candidates in all competitive exams.

Special Note: However on Intervention of the NFB Karnataka the commission has extended the extra time from 10 minutes to 20 minutes per hour. A revised G.O. with this effect is yet to be issue.

6. Exemption from Application Fees for Competitive Exams:-

In term of government order No. DPAR 142 SRR 2006 dated 5.11.2007 persons with disability are exempted from payment of application fees for any competitive exam held by government of Karnataka for direct recruitment

7. Exemption to the blind persons from passing the TCH Exams:

In term of G. O.No:- SKE 79 PHP 92 Bangalore, Dtd:25-1-1999 blind persons are exempted from passing the TCH exam to become the teacher in special schools for blind

8. Provision for application of job reservation for person with disability in govt. aided, private institutions

In term of G.O. No.WCD.08.PHP.2006 dated 9th November 2006 and DPAR 235 SRR 2012 dtd. 27.11.2012 containing amendment in persons with disability (Karnataka rules 2003), the job reservation for persons with disability applies to all those private institutions who receive financial aid from the state government.

9. Service rules for appointment of blind person in government run special residential schools for blind:-

In term of G.O. No. DPAR/101/SRD/98(P), Bangalore Dated 1st April, 2004, Special rules have been made for appointment of blind person as a mobility instructor and music teacher in government run special residential schools for blind children’s.

10. Reservation in allotment of Industrial Sites for Disabled Entrepreneurs:

In term of extract of resolution passed by Karnataka Area Industrial Development Board in its 275th meetings held on 24.08.2006, 3% sites in all layouts of K.I.A.D.B. are reserved for entrepreneur with disabilities and subsidy of 40% subject to a maximum of Rs.5,00,000/- in value of the site is also extended to them.

N. Unemployment allowance to unemployed person with disability:

State government has undertaken a new scheme to offer monthly allowance of Rs.1000/- as an employment allowance to those persons with disability who are registered in special employment exchange for more than 2 years and could not placed in any gainful employment. As per the standing rules age of the beneficiary should be between 25 to 45 years and he/she should not be a beneficiary of monthly pension scheme for disabled.

for more details please refer G.O. No. WCD112PHP2014, Bangalore dated 12.3.2015

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Special benefits to the government employees with disability

Government of Karnataka has granted some special facilities and relaxations to its employees with disability. Which are as under?

a. Restriction on the transfers of disabled employees:-

In term of G.O No:-DPAR 94 Dtd: 5-9-1985, the state government maintains that its employees with disability are exempted from routine transfers and it is also maintained that in case if the transfer of a disabled employee becomes unavoidable, in such situation government should afford to provide all basic amenities to the transferred employee with disability for his/her reaccommodation at the transferred place

b. Conveyance Allowance to Blind & Orthopedically Handicapped Employees:-

In term of G.O. no.: FD 31 SRP 2007(1) dtd.14.8.2008

Visually challenged and Orthopedically challenged employees of the state govt. are entitled to get Monthly conveyance allowance equallent to 6% of their basic pay.

The provision of conveyance allowance applies to govt. aided private institutions too.

c. Reservation in allotment of government quarters:-

In term of Para 7 (11) of Government order No.PWD/245/PPM 96 dated 22.1.99, 2% reservation is given to govt. officers / employees with disabilities in allotment of government quarters.

As per the said G.O. it is also maintained that the employees with disabilities would be allotted the quarters at ground floor.

d. Exemption to the blind persons from payment of professional tax:-

In term of G.O. No. FD 16 CPT 79, dated 13th November 1981, the blind employees and self employed are fully exempted from the payment of professional tax.

SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS

A. Monthly Maintenance Allowance to poor Persons with Disabilities:-

In term of G.O. No.: RD 74, DSP:2013 Bangalore, dated 30.08.2013, The state government offers monthly maintenance allowance to all poor persons with disability.

Monthly Allowance of Rs. 1200/- is paid to those poor persons whose disability is above 75% and Rs. 500/- to those whose disability is between 40% to 75%.

The scheme is implemented through revenue office at each block under ministry of rural development and panchayat raj.

B. Scheme of Financial Assistance to person with disability to purchase assistive devices:

In term of G.O. No: SWL 199 PHP 91, Bangalore Dtd: 5.2.1992, the Directorate for empowerment of differently abled and senior citizen offers financial assistance to the persons with disability for purchase of assistive devices of their daily use.

Various assistive devices for use of different category of disability are covered under the scheme.

The scheme is implemented through district disable welfare officers at each district.

In term of G.O. No. WCD 111PHP 2016 dated 16.5.2016 the maximum limit of assistance to an individual for purchase of assistive devices has been enhanced from 10,000 to 15,000/-

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C. Scheme of Financial Assistance for Disability corrective Surgeries.

In term of G.O. No.: WG CHW: 114: PHP: 2014, Bangalore Dated 07.06.2014, the directorate for empowerment of differently abled and senior citizens extends financial assistance upto Rs. 100000/- to person with disability for surgical correction and reduction in their disability.

As per the above mentioned G.O. the surgery for correction and reduction in disability in govt. hospitals and well reputed private hospital and post surgery medication are covered under the scheme.

Office of director for empowerment of differently abled and senior citizens may be contacted to know more about the scheme.

D. Reservation to person with disabilities in housing schemes:

In term of G.O. No. HD 206 HAH, dtd.24.6.2002, 5% reservation is extended to houseless persons with disability under all housing schemes of the state government such as Rural Asharay Housing Scheme, Ambedkar housing scheme and scheme of housing for special professionals.

All these schemes are implemented by Rajeev Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation.

The applications may be made for benefit under all such schemes through district disabled welfare offices at concerned district.

E. Reservation of 3% of the fund under all poverty alleviation schemes:

In term of Notification No: WCD 08 PHP 2006 DTD., 9TH NOVEMBER 2006, and G.O. No.: WG CHW 96 PHP 2011 dated 11.03.2011, 3% of the budget of rural development and panchayat raj for schemes of educational,

social, economic and medical upliftment, has been earmarked for person with disability.

Special Note: The sec. 37 B of RPD act 2016 obligates the state government to enhance the allocation of fund from 3% to 5% in all poverty alleviation and various developmental schemes. The state government is yet to implement the provision by appropriate G.O.

f. Reservation in allotment of residential cites of B.D.A :-

In term of letter of principal secretary to the government department of urban development wide its number UDE 195.2001 dt. 20.9.2001 written to state commissioner for persons with disability, the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) provides 2% reservation to persons with disability in allotment of all its residential cites.

Special Note: As per sec.37C of RPD act 2016 it is obligated for all appropriate authorities to minimum 5% reservation in allotment of land on concessional rate, where such land is to be use for the purpose of promoting, housing, shelter, setting up of occupation, business, enterprises, recreation centres and production centres.

g. Facility of free travel to totally blind persons in KSRTC Buses:-

The KSRTC has extended free Travel facilities to the totally Blind persons on the strength of Identity –cum-free passes issued to them by the KSRTC.

In term of general standing order of KSRTC containing consolidated instructions No. 777/2016 dated 30.11.2016 various provision of the scheme are as under

1. The facility of free travel to totally blind persons is available in City Services, suburban

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services, mofusil ordinary buses and mofussil express busses.

Please refer Point No.2-1 on page No. 3 of above mentioned Standing order of KSRTC

2. No fees will be charged from the blind person for issuance of the free bus pass

Please refer Point No. 4-5 on page No. 4 of above mentioned order.

3. Necessary instructions with regard to use the facility of free travel

a. A totally blind person shall have to apply for free travel pass cum identity card in a prescribed format accompanied by three pass ports size photograph and certificate of blindness issued by a competent authority

Please refer point No.4-2 &3 on page No. 4 of above mentioned order.

b. Charges for luggage will be applicable as same as normal passenger

Please refer point No.4-6 on page No.4 of above mentioned order

c. The pass holders shall carry the pass while travelling in the KSRTC busses and shall produce the same on demand by any authorized official of the Corporation failing which fare and penalty prescribed for the Journey will be recovered.

Please refer Point No. 5 -1 on page No.5 of above mentioned order

d. Travel on mutilated pass, misuse of pass or un-authorized alteration on the pass will yielded confiscation and cancellation of pass.

Please refer Point No. 5-3 on page No.5 of above mentioned order

e. Begging or causing nuisance of any kind inside the bus is prohibited. In case the pass holder is found to be indulging in the act of begging in the bus or bus station premises the pass will be confiscated and he will not be issued with a free pass thereafter.

please refer Point No.5-7 on page No.5 of above mentioned order

f. In case of loss of the Identity Card cum pass a duplicate will be issued subject to payment of Rs. 100/- (Rupees five only).

Please refer No. 5-8 on page No. 6 of above mentioned order

4. The validity of Identity cum free pass shall be 5 years.

please refer No. 2-2 on page No. 3 of above mentioned order

5. Facilities of free travel in KSRTC busses is extended throughout the state of Karnataka and in neighbouring states


6. Reservation of seats for physically handicapped in KSRTC buses:- Two seats located in left side near to back door and two seats located in right side near to front door have been reserved for physically handicapped passengers in all government buses


h. Facilities to the totally blind passengers in BMTC buses. :- Bangalore metropolitan transport corporation( BMTC) has granted the following facilities to its totally blind travelers

1. Facility of free travel in all services of the BMTC including vaayuvajra (Volvo) service

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on production of free travel passes issued by the KSRTC

Reference: Modified order of BMTC No. 433/2009-10 dtd. 18.05.20

2. BMTC also reserves seats for physically handicapped passengers including blind as per the KSRTC rules contained in its General Standing order No. 777/2016 dated 30.11.2016

i. Scheme of Rural Rehabilitation of persons with disability:- In term of wide No. DWCD 237 PHP 2007 dtd.16.8.2007, the state government has undertaken an ambitious scheme of comprehensive development of persons with disability residing in rural areas. Under this scheme the person with disability have been appointed as village Rehabilitation worker at panchayat level and multitask rehabilitation worker at Taluk level. In order to respond the special needs of persons with disability in area of rehabilitation, education, employment and social security

The scheme is being implemented in each taluk all over the state

j. 2% reservation for institutions for persons with disability in allotment of civic amenity (CA) sites of BDA:

In term of G.O. No. UDD74MNJ2009 dated 20.04.2010, BDA provides 2% reservation to NGO working for the welfare of persons with disability in allotment of civic Amenity (C.A) sites.

k. Marriage incentive to the couple incase a normal person weds to a person with disability:

In term of G.O. No. DWCD: 261:PHP:2013 Bangalore- Date: 28.08.2013 the directorate for empowerment of differently abled and senior

citizens has undertaken an innovative scheme under which amount of Rs.50,000/- is deposited for minimum 5 years to the joint account of such a couple where a normal person gets marriage to a person with disability

After completion of 5 year it will depend on mutual discussion of the couple to continue the FD or to encash the same.

l . Child care allowance to mothers with blindness:

In term of G.O. No. DWCD: 265: PHP 2013 dated. 28.8.2013 the directorate for empowerment of differently abled and senior citizens offers an assistance of Rs.2000/- per month to the blind mother for care of her 2 babies upto 2 years.

for availment of the benefit of the scheme the annual income of the family of the blind mother should not exceed Rs.2.50 lakhs.

M. Additional casual leaves to female employees of the state government who are having child with disability:- In term of G.O. No. DPAR 1 SRR:2011 dtd 29.6.2011 a female employee of state government having a disabled child is allowed extra casual leaves upto 15 days in a calendar year for necessary care of her child with disability.

N. Allocation of Rs.10 lakh per annum for development of persons with disability out of MLA local area development fund: In term of G.O. No. PD 79 UVV 2011 Bangalore dtd. 8-9-2011 it is obligatory for each member of legislative assembly in Karnataka to spend Rs.10 lakh to providing assistive devices to persons with disability out of his/her fund received for local area development.

MISCELLANEOUS

1. Financial Assistance to the Sports persons with disability:-

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In term of Revised G.O. No.:WCD:93: PHP: 2017 Dtd: 9-5-17 the financial assistance of Rs.50,000/- is extended to sports persons with disability for participating in national and international sports event under “Sadhane Scheme” of the state government.

2. Exemption from maximum limit of income for availment of benefit of various special scheme by persons with disability :-

In term of G.O. No.: DWCD 473 PHP 2001, Bangalore Dtd: 28-6-2002, the beneficiaries with disability are exempted from the provision of maximum income ceiling for availment of benefit of some special schemes. Such as scholarship, free bus travel and financial assistance for disability prevention and correction surgeries.

3. Disposal of the files of persons with disability with in a time limit:-

In term of G.O. vide No.: MMA/166/PHP/2004 Dtd: 5-5-2004, The chief secretary to the state government has instructed the all departments and authorities of the state government for disposal of matters of persons with disability with in a time limit of one month. Sources to avail all above mentioned G.O/Circulars –

1. Website of directorate for empowerment of differently abled and senior citizens –

Welfare of Disabilities.kar.nic.in

2. Mr. Amaranth information officer to Directorate for empowerment of differently abled and senior citizens at Telephone: 080-22866066, 22866046,22860907

3. The compendium published by the directorate for the empowerment of differently abled and senior citizen and available at office of director

Dept. for the Empowerment of Differently Abled and Senior Citizens

Podium Block, Vishveswaraiah Tower, Dr. Ambedkar Road, Bangalore-560 001 Telephone: 080-22866066, 22866046,22860907 Fax: 080-22868347 Email Address : dir-dwdsc-ka[at]nic[dot]in Website Address : welfareofdisabled.kar.nic.in

4. General Secretary National federation of the blind Karnataka – 9980444655/9916368800 mail-id- [email protected] web: www.nfbkarnataka.org

r

‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude,

humility, understanding - Alice Walker

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Education

1. Scheme of National Scholarship for persons with disability

Central government has undertaken a new scheme of scholarship for students with disability who pursing pre metric, post metric research studies and for those who go abroad for the higher studies, under this scheme a good monthly amount of scholarship is offered to students with all type of recognized disabilities all over the country. for more details visit website of department for empowerment for disabled under union ministry of social justice and empowerment www.disabilityaffairs.gov.in

2. Provision of 3% reservation in education and employment for persons with disability in all universities/colleges

In term of UGC circular .O. D.O. No.ll-5/95(CPP-iI) (Vol-III) J & JU. 2001 July 11, 2001, it is obligatory for all universities and colleges to provide 3% reservation to persons with disability in admission of all their academic courses and recruitment for teaching and non teaching staff

3. Relaxation of 5% marks in P.G. Course to students with disability for appearing to NET Exam:

In term of circular NO.F.6-l/2002(CPI’-n) May, 20G2 UGC allows disabled students with 50% marks to appear in NET Exam while the eligibility condition for appearing in the same exam is 55% marks in PG course.

4. The comprehensive and unified guidelines for scribe to the persons with disability in written exams :

On the basis of recommendations made by chief commissioner for persons with disability, the

union ministry of social justice and empowerment has notified certain unified guidelines to provide the scribe/reader/lab attendant to persons with disability in written exams. In term of its notification number F.NO-16-110/2003-DD.III dated 26.02.2013

These unified guidelines are applicable in all written exams throughout the country.

Some key guidelines include the following:

a. The facility of scribe/Reader/Lab Assistant should be allowed to any person who has disability of 40% or more if so desired by the person.

b. The candidate should have the discretion of opting for his own scribe/reader/lab assistant or request the Examination Body for the same. The examining body may also identify the scribe/ reader/lab assistant to make panels at the District/Division/ State level as per the requirements of the examination. In such instances the candidates should be allowed to meet the scribe a day before the examination so that the candidates get a chance to check and verify whether the scribe is suitable or not.

c. Criteria like Educational qualification, marks scored, age or other such restrictions for the scribe/reader/lab assistant should not be fixed. Instead, the invigilation system should be strengthened, so that the candidates using scribe/reader/lab assistant do not indulge in mal-practices like copying and cheating during the examination.

d. There should also be flexibility in accommodating any change in scribe/reader/lab assistant in case of emergency. The candidates should also be allowed to take more than one scribe/reader for writing different papers especially

Assistance by Government of India for Socio-economic Empowerment of PWD

57

for languages.

e. The disability certificate issued by the competent medical authority at any place should be accepted across the country

f. The word “extra time or additional time” that is being currently used should be changed to “compensatory time” and the same should not be less than 20 minutes per hour of examination for persons who are making use of scribe/reader/lab assistant. All the candidates with disability not availing the facility of scribe may be allowed additional time of minimum of one hour for examination of 3 hours duration which could further be increased on case to case basis.

For notification containing these comprehensive guidelines the website of department for empowerment of persons with disability union ministry of social justice and empowerment may be visited www.disabiltiyaffairs.gov.in

5. Relaxation in upper age limit to persons with disability in admission to university/colleges

In term of its circular wide No.F6-1/2002(CPP-11) Vol-III dated July 2006, UGC has advised all universities and colleges to grant relaxation of 5 years in upper age limit to persons with disability for admission in all their courses

Special facilities to the employees of government of India with disability

1. Adhoc allotment of General Pool residential accommodation to the physically handicapped employees :-

As per circular No. G.O.No. No. 12029(2)/80-Pol.II dtd.19.10.92 the disabled employees of government of India are entitled for out of term allotment of residential accommodation from pool of residential accommodation

2. Provision of special transport allowance to the disabled employees of government of India:

Employees of government of India with disability are paid transport allowance at double of normal rate subject to minimum Rs.1000/- per month. Please refer OM No. 2l(2)/2008-H-ll(R) dated 29.09.2008 of government of India.

3. Provision of special casual leaves for disabled employees of government of India:

Government of India has granted 10 special casual leaves in a calendar year to its employees with disability in order to participate in developmental conferences, workshops and seminars relating to the disability issues. For detail, Please refer the circular No. No. 28016/02/2007-Estt (A), dated.14th November, 2007.

4. Relaxation in rules of posting and transfer for Group C & D employees of Government of India with Disability:

In term of circular No. A-B 14017/41/41/90-Estt. (RR) dtd. 10th May, 1990 Government of India maintains that its group C and D employees with disability be appointed as for as possible nearest to their home town and exempted from routine transfers

5. Provision of Child care allowance to female employees of government of India with disability and reimbursement of education allowance to the government employees for their disabled child:

In term of its circular No. No.12011/04/2008-Estt. (Allowance) dtd. 11th September, 2008 government of India has made the provision to give additional monthly allowance of Rs.1000/- to its female employees with disability to look after their child.

As per the same circular the education allowance is admissible to its employees at double of normal rate for the education of child with disability

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6. Provision of extra casual leaves to Employees of government of India with disability

in term of its Circular No. No. 25011/1/2008-Estt (A) dated : 19th November, 2008 Government of India allows four additional casual leaves to its employees with disability in compare to all other employees

7. Guidelines of central government with regard to provide certain facilities/amenities to its employees with disability

In term of the circular of department of personnel and training wide No. 36038/3/2013 dated 31.03.2014 government of India has notified certain guidelines to provide some special facilities and amenities to its employees with disability with the view to enhance their performance.

such key facilities/amenities include inclusive post recruitment and pre promotion trainings providing all required aids/appliances /latest assistive technology for discharge of their duties, fully accessible and barrier free working and utility areas at work place, establishment of grievances redressel committees, etc.

8. Protection of government employees in case of occurrence of disability during the service by way of any reason:

Sec.47 of person with disability act 1995 provides the protection to those employees of the government who acquire disability during their service tenure due to any reason. But the instances have come to the notice that due to lack of awareness regarding said legal provisions the employee after acquiring disability prefer or is forced to apply for voluntary retirements under various service rules.

Keeping this in view, the government of India in terms of its notification F.NO.25012/1/2015 dtd. 19.5.2015 has decided that it will be the

responsibility of superiors of such concerned employees to explain the concerned employee who acquired the disability and wants to seek a voluntary retirement , what legal protections are available to him\her under above mentioned section 47 of PWD act 1995.

9. Exemption from transfer to bank employees with disability:

In term of Circular issued by Bank division of dept. of economic affairs govt. of India vide no.:302/33/2/87 – SCT(B) dated 15.02.1988, disabled employees of public sector banks and non banking corporations are exempted from routine transfers from the place of their original posting / appointments.

10. Scheme of UGC for financial assistance to permanent visually challenged teachers at colleges and universities for hiring reader service:

As per 11th five year plan the financial assistance is available permanent visually challenged teachers at colleges / university level for hiring reader services and purchase of Braille / Talking books / Assistive devices for pursuing the teaching and research work.

11. Travel allowance to the Escorts of disabled employed of Govt. of India:

In term of circular issued by Department of Expenditure ministry of finance govt. of India vide no.: 19030/3/2013-E dated 17th Feb. 2015, Govt. of India has decided to offer travel allowance to the Escorts of its disable employees for training and touring purpose.

12. Extra Cassual leaves for central government employs with disability

In term of its circular wide No. 25011/1/2008-Estt (A) dated 19th November 2008, the central government extends 4 additional casual leaves to its employ with disability in

59

accordance with this provision, the disabled employs of central government are entitled to enjoy 12 cassual leaves in compare to 8 casual leaves in general.

BANKING FACILITIES TO VISUALLY CHALLENGED CUSTOMERS

1. Ruling of RBI with regard to provide all banking facilities to the visually challenged customers:

In term of its circular No. RBI / 2007-08 / 358 dtd. June 4, 2008 Reserve Bank of India has directed to all commercial banks to extend all banking facilities to their visually challenged customers at par with other customers, such as account opening, cheque book, ATM card, credit card, debit card, locker, loan etc.,

2. Direction of RBI for making all ATM accessible and to install new Talking / Braille enabled ATM’s:

In term of its circular vide No.: UBD.BPD.Cir.No. 70/13.03.000/2013-14 dated 11.06.2014, RBI has advised all commercial banks to construct appropriate ramps for enabling disabled customers to use the ATM’s and to install atleast 1/3 of their new ATM’s with Braille Key Pad and Audio output systems for independent use of ATM’s by the Visually challenged customers.

3. Cheque facility for visually challenged account holders in SBI:

In term of its circular Vide no.: S & P /SD/424 dated 30th October 2009 and further amendments, the SBI has made the provision to issue the cheque book to its visually challenged depositors.

4. Internet banking facilities of VC customers by SBI:

In term of its circular vide No.: NBG/NBG-INB-INB/2013-14/3 07.08.2013, the SBI has decided to allow its VC customers to use

all internet banking facilities to its regular websites.

5. Issuance of Credit Card to VC Customers by PNB:

In term of its circular vide No.: 08/2010 dated 31st May 2010, Punjab National Bank (PNB) has allowed all those VC customers who are holding an account with it for more than six month to take and use Credit card of PNB at par with other credit card users.

6. Advise of RBI to non-banking finance companies (NBFC) for providing loan to persons with disability:

In term of its circular Vide No.: DNBS.CC.PD.No. 191 /03.10.01/2010-11 July 27, 2010

RBI has advised to all NBFCs note to discriminate with persons with disability including visually challenged persons in extending loan facilities to their clients.

7. Provision of Banking Facilities for VC customers by State Bank of India (SBI):

In term of its master circular vide No.: DBOD No.Leg.BC. 21 /09.07.006/2012-13 dated July 2, 2012, (Point No.: 10 at page No.: 36), SBI also allows its VC customers to make use of various banking facilities such Cheque book, ATM’s and locker.

8. Strict instructions of RBI for compliance of all provisions with regard to provide all banking facilities to VC customers:

In term of its circular vide No.: RPCD. No. RRB.BC. 35 /03.05.90/2012-13 October 11, 2012 RBI has advised all banks for strict compliance of the provisions made under circular no.: Circular RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No.13/03.05.33/2008-09 dated July 23, 2008 and Circular RPCD.CO.RRB.BC.No.97/03.05.90-A/2008-09 dated April 21, 2009 , with regard to offer all banking facilities to persons with visual impairment

60

such as cheque book, net banking, ATM’s, Locker, Debit / Credit cards and loan etc.,

9. Inclusion of persons with disability in weaker section as a priority sector for banking finance:

In term of its circular vide No.: FIDD.CO.Plan.BC.51/04.09.01/2014-15 March 13, 2015 persons with disability are included in weaker section as a priority category for banking finance.

COMMUNICATION

1. 20% concession in usage of BSNL Broad band service:-

Bharatiya Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) allows the blind users 20% concession in uses of BSNL broad band service. For more detail please refer its circular no. R&C No.10/09-10 dated : 08-04-2009

2. Provision of telephone connections to blind persons on priority and 50% rebate in monthly / Annual rent:

In term of its circular vide No.: No.9-27/93-PHA dated 23/09/1883, issued by BSNL, a provision has been made to provide telephone connection to the blind persons on priority and to grant 50% rebate in monthly / Annual rental.

3. Postal concession in transmission of literature for blind:

In term of rule no.: 129, 130, 131 for inland postage and rule no.: 304 & 305 for foreign postage in part one of post office guide updated upto 30th June 1965, literature for the blind is exempted from the payment of postage both inland and foreign.

Some key rules with this regard include the following:

a. The packets of ‘’Blind literature’’ are exempted from the payment of following –Postal Charge,

Registration fee, fees for acknowledgement, fee for the attested copy of the receipt .

b. Postage free ``Blind literature’’ packet will be transmitted by surface route only.

c. Papers of any kind, periodicals and books impressed in braille or other special type for the use of blind, may be treated as ‘’Blind literature’’ and transmitted by post as ‘’Blind Literature’’.

d. Plates bearing the characters of writings, sound reports for the use of blind and discs, films, tapes and wires on which spoken messages have been recorded, when sent by, or addressed to, an officially recognized institutions for the blind, shall also be treated as ``Blind Literature’’.

For more details above given rules of post office guide may be refer.

Concession in Travel

1. Concession in travel by Railway

Ministry of railway allows the blind to travel at concessional fares by Indian railways. Some key rules in order to enjoy the benefit of this concession are as follows.

1. A blind person may travel alone or with an escort in Indian Railway at concessional fare for any purpose.

2. A blind passenger and his / her escort are given the concession in fare for their journey in Indian Railway as follows:

a. First class, second class, sleeper class, AC chair car and 3 tire AC- 75%

b. First class Ac, 2nd class Ac and Season ticket- 50%

c. Concession in Rajadhani and Shatabdi trains – 25%

3. The concession is applicable in basic fare only, superfast charge, reservation charge, etc are payable as per the normal rates.

61

a. The concession is allowed on production of certificate issued by a medical practitioner or head of the registered institution of and for the blind.

4. The concession certificate issued by the above mentioned authorities shall be valid for five years from the date of issue.

For more details the website of Indian railway may be visited

2. Online booking of concessional tickets in Railway

In term of its notification wide No. 2011/TG-1? 10/e-ticketing for disabled/Pt-I dated 19.3.2015 the government of India ministry of railway has allowed its physically challenged passengers for online booking of their concessional tickets on the strength of a photo Identity card issued by the Indian railway. for more details either the website of Indian Railway may be visited or the commercial division of railway in concerned area may be contacted

3. Yatri Mitra Yojana of Indian Railway for helping Senior citizens and persons with disability

In term of its No. 2015/TGIV/10/WC/181/IRCTC (Commercial Circular no. 47/2016)

dated Dt: 12.09.2016 Indian Railway has undertaken a scheme of assisting its old and differently abled passengers at the railway stations of departure and arrival . The scheme is entitled Yatrimitra Seva

The salient features of the proposed Yatri Mitra Seva are as under:

1. Yatri Mitra shall provide Wheel chair cum porter services to differently abled, ailing and old persons

2. The responsibility of providing Yatri Mitra Sewa has been entrusted with IRCTC. IRCTC may provide this service ‘Free of cost’ through some NGO, charitable trust, PSUs etc

under CSR. However, if this service can’t be provided ‘Free of Cost’ due to lack of response from NGOs, Charitable trust, PSUs etc, IRCTC may arrange this service on payment basis through a service provider or on its own.

3. IRCTC may also arrange these services through existing Battery Operated Car

(BOC) Operator, wherever, an agency is providing the service.

4. Booking of Yatri Mitra: The booking of Yatri Mitra can be done as under:

-- The Yatri Mitra service can be booked on IRCTC e-ticketing website and 139 (IVRSand SMS) or through a mobile.

-- A Mobile Application developed by CRIS would also be made available for booking of Yatri Mitra as and when it is developed and released by CRIS.

-- A dedicated Mobile number for each station, where this service is available, shall be made available by the Service provider/IRCTC which would be displayed on IRCTC e-ticketing website and zonal websites of IR to facilitate booking of Yatri Mitra.

3. New guidelines of Director General Civil Aviation for carriage of passengers with disability and reduced mobility have been notified in term of DGCA circular wide No. 23-5/2010-AED dated 28th February 2014 Some key guidelines include the following

a. These guidelines are applicable to all Indian operators engaged in scheduled and non scheduled AIR services of carriage of passengers within and outside India, all foreign airlines operators who operators from and to Indian and air port operators with the territory of India.

b. No airlines shall refuse to carry persons with disability for reduced mobility his/her assistive devices escort/guide dog, etc.

62

c. It shall be the responsibility of passenger with disability or reduced mobility to intimate the airlines about their specific requirements minimum 48 hours before the schedule time of departure, so that the airlines can make the necessary arrangements.

d. No Airlines shall refuse to engage in interlines transactions for carriage of persons with disability or reduced mobility. However, such carriage shall be governed by the applicable provisions of the interline carrier/state.

e. Where a person with disability or reduced mobility is assisted by an escort, the airline shall make all reasonable efforts to give such a person seat next to the persons with disability or reduced mobility

f. It shall be the responsibility of the cabin crew in-charge to ensure briefing to persons with disability or reduced mobility including their escorts, if any, before take-off on the emergency procedures, cabin layout and specialized equipment on board the aircraft to cater for their needs. Blind passengers shall be briefed verbally. Braille broachers may be provided as a back-up of such briefing. Instructions in large print may also be made available for persons with low vision.

To no more about with this new guidelines please refer above mentioned Civil Aviation Requirement Notification

Employability

1. Reservation for persons with disability in jobs and other relaxations

In term of office memorandum of department of personnel and training under ministry of personnel public grievances & pension Government of India wide No. 336035/3/2004 dated 29th December 2005 and subsequent circulars, the Central government has granted 3% reservation to persons

with disability in all its recruitments of group A,B,C & D in each establishments. under its control. The 3% reservation in equally divided among blind/low vision, hearing impaired, Locomotor and cerebral policy in ratio of 1%

For effective implementation of scheme of job reservation the central government has also extended some other relaxations. such as exemption from payment of application and examination fees for competitive exams, relaxation of 10 years in upper age limit for entry to the government jobs, reservation in promotion upto some extent in group C and D, etc.,

Reservation in award of retail outlets, 2/3 wheeler outlets, Kerosene -LDO dealership and LPG distributorship

Ministry of petroleum & Natural Gas extends 7.5% reservation to persons with disability in allotment of above mentioned dealership /distribution ship/ outlets for more details the website of the ministry may be referred.

Social Security Benefits

1. 3% Reservation in Indira Awas Yojana

In term of circular of department of rural area and employment, government of India wide No.H.11011/13/96 RH dated 10th March 1997, 3% horizontal reservation is given to persons with disability belonging to BPL families in their respective SC, ST and OBC categories under Indira Awas Yojana.

2. Reservation in construction of toilets for individual house hold to persons with disability

As per the circular of Department of Rural Development, ministry of Rural areas and employment, government of India dated 5.5.1997. 3% of the fund allocated for construction of toilets for individual households in rural areas is spent for persons with disability under rural sanitation program

63

3. Allocation of 3% fund for creation of barrier free environment for persons with disability under Javahar Rojgar Yojana

In terms of para 33.2 and 32.1(a) of manual of Javahar Rojgar Yojana 3% of the fund allocated for the general work should be spent for creating barrier free environment for persons with disability in rural areas.

Circular of ministry of rural area & Employment, government of India wide No. 24011/13/94 REIII dated 10.2.1997

4. ADIP scheme of union ministry of social justice & empowerment for financial assistance to purchase assistive aid & Appliances

under revised ADIP scheme effective from 1st April 2014 following additional benefits have been granted to the beneficiaries.

a. Income ceiling of the beneficiary or his/her parents is enhanced from monthly Rs. 6000/- to 20,000/-

b. quantum of 100% assistance has been raised from the device worth Rs.6000/- to the devices upto Rs.10,000/- in general.

c. 51 modern and innovative devices for the use of visually challenged have been covered for 100% financial assistance under revised scheme such as daisy player, smart cane, tablet, etc.

The revised ADIP scheme may be referred on the website of the department of empowerment of persons with disability www.disabilityaffairs.gov.in in detail Concession in Central Taxes

1. Concession in custom duty

As per the amendment notifications Government of India dated 28.2.2009 the goods for welfare charity research and education of persons with disability specified in its Colum 2 imported from other countries are exempted from payment of custom duty.

The exemption has been extended event to import of Braille paper from the financial year 2016-17 in term of announcement made by hon’ble union finance minister in his budget speech of 29th February 2016

2. Concession in Income Tax

The government of India allows persons with disability a generous deduction of 1,25,000 from total income when computing the net income for income tax purpose. Under sec.80U of income tax act which is effective for the assessment from the year 2016 – 17

Miscellaneous

1. Exemption from routine/rotational transfer to employee of government of India having child with disability

The notification of Department of personnel & Training under ministry of a personnel, public grievances and pensions government of India wide No. 42011/3/2014 dated 6.6.2014 exempts employ of government of India having child with disability from routine/rotational transfers subject to administrative constrains.

2. Swavalamban Health Scheme

A prestigious health Insurance scheme entitled “Svavalamban Health Insurance Scheme” launched on 2nd October 2015 by Ministry of social justice , Dept of Empowerment of persons with disabilities in association with The New India Assurance Company Limited for benefit of persons with disability

The Sailent features of the scheme are as under

1. Sum insured of Rs. 2 lacs on family floater for a period of 12 months.

2. Age band 0 - 65 years.

3. Family Size upto 1+3 (pwd, his/her spouse, and upto 2 children)

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4. If the primary person (disabled) is minor then legal guardian or parents of the minor will be covered in the policy

5. Benefit of the scheme is available for persons with disabilities with annual income of Rs. 3 lacs and below on declaration basis in proposal form.

6. No premedical tests

7. Uniform premium contribution of Rs. 357 per person / family.(equallent to 10% of actual premium)

8. 90% of the actual premium is born by the central government

9. OPD cover for corrective therapy up to Rs. 10,000 a year for person with disability. For persons with mental retardation and mental illness, OPD cover is Rs. 3000 per annum.

10. No exclusion of pre-existing conditions. However corrective surgery for existing impairment can be done with consent of insurer/TPA.

11. Pre-post hospitalization expenses covered sub to limits.

12. Persons with multiple disabilities, Cerebral Palsy & autism are not covered under this scheme.

13. Procedure for enrollment : Proposal form duly completed and signed with Rs 357.00 ( Premium : 310 + Service tax: 47), Passport size two photographs of each family member to be covered in the policy, Disability certificate as per PWD act 1995, Copy of valid ID i.e. Voter card, Aadhar Card, Driving license etc.

Contact Details Toll Free No: 1800 209 1415

Ph: 011-23411998, 23412370 [email protected]

[email protected] Bangalore office of New Assurance India company

; 9449061966

r

65

Following Periodical Publications are available to the Visually Challenged Persons all over the Country in an accessible format.

PUBLICATION OF ALL INDIA CONFEDERATION OF THE BLIND

Braille Bhavan, (Behind RajivGandhiCancerHospital), Sector-V, Rohini, NEWDELHI- 110 085. (India) Ph. No.: 011 – 27054082 / 27247469, Fax No.: 011 - 27050915 / 22941093 E-mail ID: [email protected]&[email protected] Website: www.aicb.org.in

Name of Publication

Format Language Periodicity Subject Matter

Annual

Subscription

Refundable Deposit (If any)

Braille Digest Braille English Bi-monthly Collection of Articles of General Interest from Print Media

Rs.50/- N.A.

Jigyasa Braille Hindi Bi-monthly Collection of Articles of General Interest from Print Media

Rs.50/- N.A.

Nandan Braille Hindi Monthly Children Rs.500/- N.A.

Thuttinikkethan Braille Tamil Monthly Collection of Articles of General Interest from Print Media

N.A.

Gruhashoba Braille Hindi, kannada,

Gujarathi.

Monthly Braille conversion of Gruhashobha General Magazine

Rs.120 /-

N.A.

Char chogi Braille Marati Monthly Collection of Articles of General Interesfrom Print Media

Rs.120 /-

N.A.

PUBLICATION OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE BLIND (MUMBAI)Sir Jamshedji Duggan Braille Press,# 11, Khan Abdul Gaffer Khan Road, WorliSeaface, MUMBAI- 400 030.Ph. No.:022- 2493 5365 / Fax No.: 2493 2539 / 2493 5370E-mail ID: [email protected]&[email protected]: www.nabindia.org

Availability of Accessible Journals and Magazines for Visually Impaired Persons

66

Name of Publication

Format Language Periodicity SubjectMatter

AnnualSubscription

Refundable Deposit(If any)

Vigyan Bharti Braille Hindi Quarterly Science & Technology

Rs. 60/- N.A.

Braille Sapthaik Braille Marati Weekly General 250/- N.A.

Deepshika Braille Hindi Quarterly Concerns of the woman

Rs. 40/- N.A.

Blind Welfare Braille English Thrice in year Concerns of Visually Challenged

Rs. 120/- N.A.pending

PUBLICATION OF N.I.V.H. (Dehradun)Central Braille Press, # 116, Rajpur Road, DEHRADUN-248 001. Uttranchal.Ph. No.: Board line – 0135 - 2744979, Direct line – 0135 – 2738122(Braile Section)For Talking 0135-2738147, Fax No.: 0135 – 2748147E-mail ID: [email protected], Website: www.nivh.org

Name of Publication


AnnualSubscri--ption


Nayan Rashmi Braille Hindi Bi Monthly Collection of Articles of General Interest from Print Media

Rs. 25/- N.A.

Braille Dhara Braille Hindi Monthly --do-- Rs. 50/- N.A.

Anther path Braille Hindi Monthly Women Special Rs.25\Rs. 25/-

N.A.

Braille Chronicle Braille English Monthly Collection of Articles of General Interest from Print Media

Rs. 50/- N.A.

Chayanika Talking Hindi MonthlyCollection of Articles of General Interest from Print Media

Rs. 100/-Life time N.A.

Ankur Talking Hindi Bi-monthly For ChildrenRs. 100/-Life time N.A.

Spectrum Talking English Bi-monthly Collection of Articles of General Interest from Print Media

Rs. 100/-Life time N.A.

67

PUBLICATION OF NFB. (Bahadurgarh)# 7/458, Delhi Rothak Road, Baahadurgarh, Jhajjar (Dist.)Ph. No.: 01276 - 230912 / 235849, Fax No.: 01276 - 233025E-mail ID: [email protected], Web ID: www.nfbindia.org

Name of Publication


Annual Subscription


The Touch Braille English Bi-Monthly Collection of Articles of General Interest from Print Media

Rs. 40/- N.A.

Sparshsetu Braille Hindi Bi-Monthly --do-- Rs. 40/- N.A.

Gnyanodaya Braille Hindi Monthly For Competition Exams

Rs. 100/- N.A.

PUBLICATION OF RAJASTHAN NETRAHEEN SANGH (Jaipur)# 3780, LangarKeBalaji Road, Gangouri Bazar, JAIPUR.Ph. No.: 0141 – 2410363 / 9414454705E-mail ID: [email protected]

Name of Publication


AnnualSubscription


Braille Samachar Patra Braille Hindi FortnightlyConcerns of the V.I. and General Knowledge

Rs,50/- N.A.

PUBLICATION OF BRAILLE TRANSCRIPTION UNIT OF CANARA BANK RELIEF& WELFARE SOCIETY Canara Bank Relief & Welfare Society, 27th Cross, Banashankari 2nd Stage, BANGALORE-560 070.Ph. No.: 080 – 2671 3421E-mail ID: Website: www.matruchhaya.org

Name of Publication


AnnualSubscription


Kamanabillu Braille Kannada Bi-monthly Stories & Articles from Popular Print

Magazines.On request N.A.

68

PUBLICATION OF MITRAJYOTHI Charitable trustC.A Site NO P 22 31 st main, 18th Cross HSR Layout Sector 1, Behind nIFT(National institute of Fashion Technology), Bangalore 560102PH-080-22587623E-mail ID: [email protected], Website: www.mitrajyothi.org

Name of Publication

Format Language Periodicity Subject Matter AnnualSubscription


Sanchaya Audio Kannada Monthly Articles of General Interest from print

media.

Individul-RS 150\-

Institution-RS300\-

N.A.

Pardashunkula Audio Kannada Monthly For Competition Exams

Individul-Rs. 180/-

Institution-RS300\-

N.A.

Gyanasamhita Braille Kannada Monthly Genearlintrest Rs 100\- N.A

Insight Braille English Quatrely Genearlintrest Rs 100\- N.A

Publication of UPASANA MAKATI E/3/4, Kripanagar, Irla, S.V.Road vile Parle (W), Mumbai - 400056 Ph-09920400580 [email protected] 09920400580 e-mal-upasana.whiteprint.in

Name of Publication



White print Braille English Monthly Articles of General Interest

300/- N.A.

RELIANCE FOUNDATION DRRISHTIMaker chembers IV, 3rd floor,222,Nariman point, Mumbai-400021,India.Toll free number-18004198800, Editer-09223217568e-mail;[email protected]

69

Name of Publication



Reliance drrishti Braille Hindi Fortnightly Articales & Different News

free N.A.

Publication of National Association of the Blind National association for the blind Delhi state branchSector-v,R.K. Puram, NEW DELHI-110022Ph. No.: 011 - 26102944 / 26176379 / 26175886, Fax No.: 011 - 26187650 / 23010917

E-mail ID: [email protected], [email protected], Website: www.nabdelhi.org

Name of Publication



Current affairs Audio Hindi & English

Monthly For Competition Exams

200/- N.A.

Publication of Indian association of the Blind Madurai

Sundarajanapatty, AlagarKoil Main Road, Arumbanur Post, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India - 625104 Phone: +91 452 6609900, Mobile: + 91 96008 33223 E-mail: [email protected], Website: www.theiab.org

Name of Publication



Vilichaval Braille Tamil Monthly Current affairs 100

Braille Manjari Braille Tamil Monthly Braille Conversion of leading Tamil weekly

magazine

300

70

Publication of NFB Karnataka #S372, Bharatnagar, 2nd Phase, Near Karnataka Bank MagadiMainRoad, Bangalore-91 Mob: 9980444655, 080-23484794 email :[email protected]

Name of Publication



Voice of the Blind

e-format English ` Fortnightly Latest updates on news, events and informations effecting the life

of blind and other disables

Free subscription by electronic mail

on request

Spardha spoorthi

Audio-CD kannada monthly Spardhaspoorthi monthly Audio magazine for

competitive exams.

RS 100\-Yearly

Braille Press of NIVH Regional Center Chennai 522, Trunk Road, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Pincode - 600056. Ph: 044-26272505

Paaravi Braille Tamil Bi-monthly General Mazine Rs 75\-

Publication of world Blind union web ID: www.worldblindunion.org

Name of Publication



WBU News Bulletin

e-format English Quarterly News and events of world blind union

Free

71

Publication of National Federation of the Blind USA

National Federation of the Blind and sent to the NFB, attention Braille Monitor, 200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place, Baltimore, Maryland [email protected].

Name of Publication



Braillle monitor

Braille / large print / electronic

English 11th issues in a year

Articles , news, informations effecting

the life of persons with blindness

$75 (approximately

Rs.5000/-)

Publication of Reader’s Digest Association of USA web ID: www.rd.com

Name of Publication



Reader’s digest Braille/large print/

electronic

English Monthly Conversion of leading international

prestigious journal containing articles, news and

information on multidimensional

subject in accessible formats.

This is a paid magazine

for rate and procedure of subscription

above mentioned website of

company may be logged in

Inner Eye Online magazine of Braille –Aid portal

Name of Publication



Inner Eye Online magazine of

Braille-Aid portal

e-format English Quarterly Update informations on assistive technology

Free

72

Some prominent online portals of news and informations affecting the life of blind and persons with other disability

Disability world – www.disabilitywrold.com

Eye way project of score foundation Delhi – www.eyeway.org

Department of Empowerment of persons with disability under union ministry of social justice and empowerment government of India - www.disabilityaffairs.gov.in

Office of chief commissioner for persons with disability – www.ccdisability.nic.in

Braille –aid online portal – www.braille-aid.in

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The following resources in public and private sector may be refered for availment of reading material such as educational books, reference books and wide range of books of general interest in an accessible format like Braille, Audio and Electronic formats.

The most of the material is available either in Hinid or English languages but the efforts are been made to convert reading material of regional languages too.

The prominent source include the following

Sl. No. Name of the Source Address contact details Availability of various type of material

Status

1 National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (N.I.V.H.)

Dehradun

# 116, Rajpur Road,

DEEHRADUN-248 001.

Uttranchal.

Ph. No.: 0135 –2744979 / 2738122

Fax No.: 0135 – 2748147


Website: www.nivh.org

Sale of Braille books at subsidized rate/Braille and talking libraries

Public sector Government of India

2 All India Confederation of the Blind

Braille Bhawan, Sector-5, Rohini,

Near RajivGandhiCancerHospital,

New DELHI-110 085.

Ph. No.: 011 – 27054082, 27247469

Fax No.: 011 – 27050915

E-mail ID: [email protected] & [email protected]

Website: www.aicindia.in

Sale of Braille books at subsidized rate and library of talking books

NGO

3 National Association for the Blind (India)

# 11-12, Khan Abdul Gaffer Khan Road, WorliSeaface,

MUMBAI-400 030.

Ph. No.: 022 – 2493 5365 / 2493 2820

022-66838686

Fax No.: 022 – 24932539

Telefax: 022- 24935370


Website: www.nabindia.org

[email protected]

Sale of Braille books at subsidized rate in Hindi, English, Marati and some regional languages /talking book library

NGO

Sources for Availment of Accessible Reading Materials

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4 National Federation of the Blind (India)

Delhi Rothak Road,

BAHADURGARH.

Jhajjar (Dist.),

Haryana- 124507

Mob: 9873346121

Ph. No.: 01276 – 230912 / 235849

Fax No.: 01276 – 233025

Email ID: [email protected]

[email protected]

Web ID: www.nfbindia.org

Sale of Braille books at subsidized rate in Hindi and English and National level Braille library

NGO

5 Braille Press of Ramkrishna Mission Blind Boys Academy Narendrapur,

West Bengal

Ramakrishna Mission blind boys academy , Narrendrapur,7th block

KOLKATTA-700 703.

(A Branch Centre of Ramkrishna Mission,

P.O. Belurmath, Dist. Howrah,

WEST BENGAL-711 202.

Ph. No.: 033: 2477 2201 (3 lines)

Fax No.: 033 – 24772070


Sale of Braille books at subsidized rate in Bangla, English,Hindi and some other regional languages, publication of bi annual magazine title “Rainbow half yearly mazine” (braille com large print)

NGO

6 CFBI Braille Press

Christian Foundation for the Blind (India)

Chennai

CFBI Services Complex,

# 33-A Annadurai Street,

.

(Near Municipality office)Anagaputhur, Chennai 600 070 INDIA

eMail

: [email protected] [email protected]

Website: www.cfbiministries.org

Supply of Braille literature mainly in Tamil and English

NGO

7 Helen Keller Foundation Computerized Braille Press of Poona Blind Men’s Association Poona

Poona Blind Men Association

82, Rasta Peth, PUNE - 411011

Tel. :91 020 6336433/6336568 Fax :91 020 6336741 Email :[email protected]

Regional Braille press for printing Braille books on request

NGO

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Delhi

DelhiState Branch

Sector-V, R.K. Puram,

NEW DELHI-110 022.

Ph. No.: 011 – 26102944 / 26176379 / 26175886

Fax No.: 011 – 26187650 / 23010917

E-mail ID: [email protected]&[email protected]

Website: www.nabdelhi.org

Availability of a wide range of talking and e-books on MP3 CD at rate of just Rs.15/- per book and production of Braille books on request

NGO

9 Lal Bihari Shah Braille Academia Braille press of Blind persons Association

Kolktata

Lal Bihari Shah Braille Academia Vidyapalli, Malancha-Mahinagar, Kolkata – 700145 Phone: +9133-24377206 Established in 2003

Email: [email protected], [email protected]

Web: www.bpa.org.in

Regional Braille press and supply Braille books mainly in Bengal and some extent in English

NGO

10 Braille press ofIndian Association for the Blind

Sundarajanapatty,

Madhurai

AlagarKoil Main Road,sundarrajanpatti, Arumbanur Post, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India - 625104

Phone: +91 452 6609900 Mobile: + 91 96008 33223 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.theiab.org

Supply of Braille books mainly in Tamil

NGO

11 Braille press of Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya Coimbatore

Tamilnadu

Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya Sri Ramakrishna Vidyalaya (P.O) Periyanaickenpalayam Coimbatore - 641 020 Tel :(0422)2692676, 2692676, 2695451, 2695453,2695452, Fax :(0422) 2692582

9944414271-pradeep

Production of Braille books on request

NGO

12 Braille Press of NIVH Regional Center Chennai

522, Trunk Road, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Pincode :600056.

Ph: 044-26272505

Producer and supplier of Braille books in all south Indian languages either free or at a nominal cost

Public Sector

Government of India

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13. Member organization of Daisy forum of India

For the list refer website of DFI - www.daisyindia.org

mob: 09818094781

Talking book libraries across the country :- there are some prominent audio book/e-books libraries in almost in every state across the country who produced and supplies accessible text books and general books to visually challenged persons.

for names and contact details of all these libraries website of dfi may be referred

NGO Network

14 US based book share on line library

www.bookshare.org Contact detail of Indian representative - email- [email protected]

mob: 9650211575

Multi lakh books of various nations and languages including Indian authors and languages are uploaded in this portal in fully accessible e-format, membership of which is totally free

International NGO

15 Sugamya Pustakalaya New Delhi

c/o The DAISY Forum of India 486 Double Storey, New Rajinder Nagar New Delhi - 110 060, India

Phone: 1800 300 20469 (Toll free) or +91-11-42411015 Email : [email protected]

online library of most accessible audio and e-books in most of Indian languages

PPP

When the seasons shift, even the subtle beginning, the scent of a promised change, I feel something stir inside me. Hopefulness? Gratitude? Openness? Whatever it is,

it’s welcome - Kristin Armstrong

77

Sl. No Name of the Service Contact details Nature of service Status

1 Help line of National Association for the Blind on Assistive technology , Delhi

Ph: 011-64556968 Solutions to the issues relating availability and use of assistive technology

NGO

2 Eye way help desk of score foundation Delhi

Our Helpdesk number is 011-46070380. email: [email protected]

Web ID: www.eyeway.org

Seeking comprehensive informations of all concerns of persons with visual impairment

NGO

3 NAB Lion Home for aging blind at Khandala

Ph: 6683 8637

Email: [email protected]

A residential home in service of aged blind men and women

NGO

4 National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People

Phone: 011-26265647/26265648 Fax: 011-26265649 E-mail: [email protected] www.ncpedp.org

Seeking comprehensive informations of all concerns of persons with all type of disability

NGO

5 Sarthak Educational Trust Delhi

Ph No. 011- 42004238 Email- [email protected]

www.sarthakindia.org

In agency for imparting various employable trainings and helping the persons with disability in getting suitable placement in corporate sectors.

NGO

6 All India Confederation of the Blind New Delhi

Phone - 91-011 27054082

Mobile - 091-09810684208 Email - [email protected] Website - www.aicb.org.in

A pioneering NGO for rehabilitation and comprehensive empowerment of persons with visual impairment with wide range of rehabilitation and professional training programs and a online portal for seeking comprehensive information concerning the blind and blindness

NGO

7 Indian blind sports association

Punjab

E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: ++91 – 11 –24361376 ++91-011- 65650969-70

Web : blindsportsindia.org

A National non governmental body for promotion of various indoor and out door sports event for blind persons

NGO

8 Matrimonial service of voice vision Mumabi for persons with disability

Phone: +91 22 40400000

Email: [email protected] Web: www.voicevision.in

For registration of persons with disability to find suitable match

NGO

Useful Links for Availment of Various Services

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8 Disability Matrimonial.com

Ph: 09501751000 , 07814612345

http://disabledmatrimonial.com/

For registration of persons with disability to find suitable match

NGO

9 Job ability portal from LRC www.jobability.org

A web based portal that connects people with disabilities with jobs, placements and work-related advice

NGO

10 Sense international India Mumbai

Phone : +917926301282

E-mail : [email protected]

Web : http://www.senseintindia.org

Only national level organization in comprehensive service of deaf blind.

NGO

11 Disability world www.disabilityworld.com For seeking comprehensive information on various concerns of persons with disability

NGO

12 Website of CCPD News Delhi

www.ccdisability.nic.in For seeking comprehensive information on various concerns of persons with disability

GOI

13 Braille – aid online portal

www.braille.aid.in For purchase of various innovative assistive devices

NGO

14 The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness (IAPB)

http://www.iapb.org For seeking information on prevention of blindness

International Agency

15 Hadley institution for the blind and visually impaired

www.hadley.edu A International school that offers various courses relating rehabilitation and development of persons with blindness through correspondence


16 International Guide Dog Federation

www.igdf.org.uk For seeking information on training and purchase of guide dogs


17 International Disability alliance

www.internationaldisabilityalliance.org Alliance of all international associations and unions representing different disabilities


18 World health organization

www.who.int/en For seeking informations on statistics facts and conditions of persons with disability


19 Wonder baby www.wonderbaby.org A portal for parents of child with disability for seeking various informations, guidance and counselling


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20 World blind union www.worldblindunion.org An apex global organization representing multimillion visually challenged persons across the globe and as a key role in addressing the concerns of the blind and low vision persons in all international policies and programs


21. Enable Travel www.enabletravel.com

[email protected]

toll free number 18002668002

Facilitating accessible travel to persons with all type of disabilities including individual and group tour across the company as well as abroad

Corporate company

22 Radio Udaan email I D: [email protected] [email protected] skype ID : danish.mahajan1988 contact : +91-9463668196 Website: www.radioudaan.com Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/radioudaan

This is a community radio completely dedicated to the visually challenged and disseminates information, raising voice and holds discussion on various concerns of persons with disability

Internet Radio run by and for visually challenged individuals

23 Namma Vani /hamari vani portal

mob: 9266344111(nammavani)

mob: 9266344222 (hamarivani)

This is a telephonic platform which provides update informations on various subjects effecting the life of visually challenged individuals infact this is a voicevarsha service which can be used for both dissemination and seeking the informations. Nammavani works in kannada language and Hamari vani is in hindi language. for seeking informations you can give a missed call in the given number from where immediately you will get the call for seeking desire information and for dissemination you can record your voice message on the given numbers

project of a Bangalore based NGO (Enable India)

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SL. No Name of App Key function Source of availment

1 English-Kannada & Kannada –English Dictionary

Dictionary Playstore

2 English Audio Dictionary Accessible audio Playstore

3 Tap tap C Identifying the color of the object and explain it in audio

playstore

4 Eye-D This has 4 features,

1. Location of the user

2. finder of different locations in surrounding area

3. Audio description of the objects in from of the user

4. Text reading (Only English)

playstore

5 Kannada news paper aap Audio reading of vijayakarnataka news paper

Play store

6 Paytm helping in accessible cashless transaction

playstore

7 Accessible key board helping the blind in use of touch screen mobile

open market product

8 Text fairy aap text reading in audio output in 60 different languages including

kannada

playstore

9 Google translate Translation of more than 100 languages in accessible audio output

playstore

10 Voice typer Helping in voice typing of SMS in 120 languages

playstore

11 Learn English Helping to learn English plyastore

12 Seeing A.I. Text reading in English Apple store

13 KNFB Reader Text reader software playstore and also paid

14 Be my eye connect to the volunteers through phone for assistance in different

situations

playstore

Innovative Accessible Apps for Visually Challenged

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4th January is observed as birth anniversary of Louis Braille.

Through his wonderful invention of tactile “Reading & Writing system” for sightless persons known as “Braille script”, French man by birth, Louis Braille has become to be accepted in spirit as a world citizen

A short life sketch of this great emancipator of the blind, is reproduced below

Louis Braille (1809 to 1852)

Year 1809 – Louie Braille was born on January 4th in coup ray, a small town on east of Paris.

Year 1812 – At the age of 3 he accidently stepped he in the eye with an awl when he was playing in his father’s saddle makers workshops. The infection spread to his other eye and he became totally blind.

Year 1819- Louie join the young blind peoples institute in parries, founded in 1784 by valentine hay. He stayed at the institute for 24 years, first as a student and later as teacher

Year 1820- Louis was introduced to the “Night writing system” developed by a army captain Nicolas Marie Charles bar bier for the army. He studied the system, made some improvements and developed his own method, which he completed in 1825 when he was just 15 years old

Year 1827- Louis Braille become a teacher at young blind people institute, where he taught grammar, history, geography, arithmetic, algebra, geometry, piano, cello

year 1829- The first version of his method was published. The second version including some improvements, was published 8 years later and contains the Braille method as we know it today

Year 1852 – on January 6th, Louis died of tuber colossi aged 43. He was buried coup ray where the house in which he was born still stands and is now in museum

year 1952 – Louis Braille’s body was moved to the pantheon in parries, not far from the young blind peoples institute where he spent most of his life.

What is Braille?

Braille is a tactile script use by the sightless person for reading and writing. This is a alphabet system of 6 dots in a 3X2 grid used to represent letters, numbers and symbols for most of the world’s languages. It plays an essential role in the lives of millions of blind people worldwide allowing them to access literature and study alongside their peers. Braille was invented by a young blind man, Louis Braille, when he was 15 years old (in 1824). At the time Louis was enrolled in the Royal Institution for Blind Youth in Paris. He wanted the right to read books just like other children and so he worked to create a tactile alphabet that would be easy to learn, replicate and use.

Louis Braille, who was born 200 years ago did not have the chance in his life time to witness the un bridled success of his simple but brilliant invention, a system which revolutionized the lives of blind people by opening doors to knowledge and culture, fields which were out of bounce to them.

Louis Braille completed his code in 1825 when he was dearly fifteen years old, but he passed away 2 years before France officially adopted his system in 1854. 4 decades his method faced rejection from both teachers at the young blind peoples institute in parries, where Braille himself studied and taught, and from sighted people. It was even banned for

Louis Braille and His Wonderful Invention

82

some time, and it was not until 1878 when an international conference held in parries recognize the Braille system giving it the boost it needed to be implemented gradually worldwide. since then training, development and independence for blind people have a realized largely on this reading and writing system that is now 200 years after it was invented, used in practically every language in the world. Although in the past few years many have hailed the replacement of the Braille system due to technological breakthrough, no alternative method capable of substituting in completely as yet been developed. what is more, there are a numerous signs that it enjoys rude health as it is used increasingly in every day settings to enable blind people to become more independent. Braille is still irreplaceable in this respect, as we can see, for example, with the cosmetics firms, food companies and wine merchants who market their products with Braille labeling, the European union directive that makes it obligatory to have Braille signage in new lifts, or the fact that since October 2005 all medicine in the European union must carry Braille labeling. Yet more initiative can be found in the field of citizens rights. Countries such as France, Germany, spane, India, Mexico, Colombia and costarica are using Braille to come up with different methods to ensure blind people are able to exercise their vote independently in election.

The simple and logical structure of Braille systems is based on the presence or absence of dots in a cell containing two parallel columns, each with 3 dots. The different permutations of dots in the six dots shall give us 63 different combinations representing all the letters of alphabets.

Louis Braille based his system on the so called “Night writing” developed by Charles bar bier, a captain in the artillery, to enable the military to send messages in the dark. Braille learnt about this

tactile code when he was just 10 years old and after studying it, he reached the brilliant conclusion that the 2 columns containing 6 dots each put forward by bar bier should be reduced to two columns of 3 dots, an Idol size for the perception of a finger tip. Louis also showed that the sense touch was significantly more sensitive to dots than to the linear system used in the code created some years previously by valentine hay.

Louis Braille came up with very logical code – The first 10 letters of the alphabet are formed using combinations only of the top 2 rows in the cell, the next 10 are the same as the first 10 with the addition of bottom dot in the left hand column, and the following 10 letters use the bottom dots in both columns. After that only the bottom right hand dot is used and so on. Punctuation marks are represented by combination of dots using only the 2 bottom rows. Louis, however, did not stop after inventing the Braille alphabet. He is also responsible for adopting his systems for mathematics, creating clever system of abbreviations, and for music, developing a vertical system that is still used to this day.

Braille and New technologies

We do not have an accurate number of Braille users, nor do we have research showing a correlation between the use of reading and writing system and academic qualifications. However, from the information we do have and available estimates we can observe that it is used by a minority of blind and low vision. This is for a verity of reasons, among them the difficulties, older people have in learning Braille and the high cost of producing Braille resource material. In addition, in recent times we have witnessed the development of new technologies based on text to speech which have reduced noticeably the extent to which Braille is used, especially because of lot of information and books are easier to get hold of using electronic

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methods. Both methods, however, far from being mutually exclusive, can complement each other.

In the 80’s and 90’s there were significant breakthroughs in computing and electronics, and we are now able to produce much more material in Braille a lot more cheaply. Suitable complementary computer programs make it possible to present the same information that is written on the computer in Braille. There are now many resources that are an improvement on what most people used to have, but for people with visual impairment many of these technological breakthroughs have opened up possibilities that were previously unimaginable. For example, huge amount of information can now be stored on a CD, DVD or other tiny storage devices that are now available and accessible to more and more people with vision loss, who use a computer. Internet also opens up brand new horizons for those of us who cannot see but have access to an adapted computer. Reading the news paper is now no longer a utopian pipe dream for the blind.

But the truth is that all these innovations do not take anything away from the value of Braille, and in fact they contribute to strengthening its merit. Now a days the ideal system is to combined Braille

and text to speech software when using a computer and, more generally, when handling informations.

Braille as a universal system

Although Braille is used by a minority of people with vision loss, it must be recognized as a truly universal system since it is used in all languages, including Chinese , Japanese and Arabic.

1950, played a leading role in the application of Braille in the written languages of the world. It carried out the very important task of preserving unity in dots that were common to several languages and made a vital contribution to extending Braille to languages less wide spread then English, French or Spanish.

Sir clutha Mackenyie, published a guide “world Braille usage” in 1953. That sets out general principals and includes Braille alphabets in those languages where they were available at the time.

Thus the Braille has been a vital force for last 200 years to remove the barriers in the lives of multimillion visually challenged persons across the globe and a prime key to their literacy, knowledge, intellectual development and economic independence.

r

Access to communication in the widest sense is access to knowledge, and that is vitally important for us we do not to be

reminded that we are vulnerable. We must be treated as equals, and communication

is the way we can bring this about.- Louise Braille

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Disability, as a condition, is widely prevalent and continues to grow in varying forms across the world. The World Health Organisation estimates that more than a billion people in the world (about 15% of the world’s population) live with some form of disability.1 India contains more than 26 million people (about 2.13% of the population) with disability.2 The past year marked the effective beginning of a new law on the rights of persons with disabilities in India. The central legislation: “The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016” (“RPD Act”), came into effect on 19 April 2017. The RPD Act substitutes the previous central legislation - Persons With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995- in its entirety. The RPD Act 2016 is a significant attempt toeliminate systemic barriers that persons with disabilities continue to face in exercising their human rights independently and equally.

Growing concern and increasing awareness about disability has helped better understand what disability is. Traditionally, disability was viewed as an impairment caused by limitations of a person’s physical or health function. This view represents the medical model of disability. There is now a significant shift in understanding disability. This shift, identified as the social model of disability, recognizes that disability is caused by the way society in ordered, rather than by a person’s medical or health condition. The social model identifies systemic and environmental barriers such as long-term discrimination, lack of

The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities Act: An Overview

access options, stigma etc., as the true causes of disability. The focus question shifts from “What is wrong with the person” (medical model) to “What is wrong with the environment around a person that restricts full participation?” (social model). Thus, the social model identifies barriers in the physical and social environment of persons with disabilities. It follows that any law that seeks to protect the rights of persons with disabilities must seek to remove barriers to full and equal enjoyment of the rights. The RPD Act, therefore, must be viewed considering this shift. This article will offer a descriptive road map of the Act and highlight provisions that are specifically useful to NGOs and activists in their task of ensuring implementation and fulfillment of rights of persons with disabilities.

The Origin

The preamble (introductory statement) of the RPD Act shows its heavy reliance on an international treaty called the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, 2006 (“CRPD” or “the Convention”). The CRPD is an international effort to codify and set out in detail, the rights of persons with disabilities and the fundamental principles underlying them. The Convention was signed by 160 countries across the world. India signed and ratified the Convention in 2007.3 The RPD Act is a result of the ratification of the Convention. The Act seeks to implement the provisions and the principles under the Convention. 4 The preamble to the RPD Act recognizes the basic principles of the Convention as laid out under Article 35:

1 See World Health Organisation ‘Summary: World Report on Disability’ 2011, p. 7.2 See Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India ‘C:20 Disabled Population by Disability, Age and Sex’ 2011.3 See UN Depositary Status of Treaties ‘ Chapter IV: Human Rights: Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ UNTS vol 2515, p 3, available at https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=IV-15&chapter=4&clang=_en4 See Preamble ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.5 See Article 3 ‘Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ UNTS vol 2515, p 3.

- Advocate Varsha Iyengar

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Respect for inherent dignity, individual autonomy including the freedom to make one’s own choices, and independence of persons; Non-discrimination; Full and effective participation and inclusion in society; Respect for difference and acceptance of persons with disabilities as part of human diversity and humanity; Equality of opportunity; Accessibility; Equality between men and women; Respect for the evolving capacities of children with disabilities and respect for the right of children with disabilities to preserve their identities.

The Convention clearly forms the basis on which the RPD Act rests. Any reading of the Act and its assessment, therefore, must contain a reference to the Convention and its foundational principles. In light of the Convention, the RPD Act incorporates provisions that signal new developments, such as broader understanding of the meaning of disability, recognising legal capacity etc.

Defining Disability

Under the old Act of 1995, the meaning of disability was restricted to seven kinds of disability (blindness, low vision, leprosy cured, hearing impairment, locomotor disability, mental retardation, mental illness).6 The RPD Act extends the scope by listing as many as 21 disabilities under a Schedule to the Act and identifying them as “specified disability”.7 Conditions such as autism spectrum disorder and acid attack, that were previously nowhere near recognition under any disability law find recognition as disabilities for the first time under the RPD Act. Therefore, there is an expansion of the coverage of various forms of disabilities. The Schedule categorises six main types of disability:

1. Physical Disability – This includes locomotor disability (including leprosy cured persons, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy and acid attack victims), visual impairment

(including blindness and low vision), hearing impairment (including deafness and hard of hearing) and speech and language disability.

2. Intellectual Disability – This includes specific learning disability and autism spectrum disorders.

3. Mental Behavior

4. Disability caused due to chronic neurological conditions (such as multiple sclerosis and parkinsons disease) and blood disorder (such as haemophilia, thalassemia, sickle cell disease)

5. Multiple Disabilities – meaning a combination of two or more of the disabilities (such as deaf blindness)

6. Any other category as may be notified by the Central Government.

The last category leaves it open to the Central Government to identify any other conditions as disability, thereby leaving the definition of disability flexible. Such flexibility is essential where the nature of social and environmental barriers change and new forms of disability arise, calling for protection of persons who have such disability. Therefore, the definition of disability allows for the social model of disability to be reflected and addressed under the Act. However, it must be noted that while the Act groups several forms of disability under the definition of “specified disability”, several protections and special measures under the Act, such as free education, scholarships, reservation in employment etc., are available only to persons with benchmark disabilities. Person with Benchmark Disability is defined as “a person with not less than forty per cent of a specified disability where specified disability has not been defined in measurable terms and includes a person

6 See Section 2(i) ‘Persons With Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995’.7 See Section 2(zc) ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’; See also Schedule ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016

86

with disability where specified disability has been defined in measurable terms, as certified by the certifying authority”. Therefore, even though the recognition of disability is to the listed conditions, such as blindness, autism etc., special measures and special protection are provided only to those persons who satisfy the benchmark of 40% or other specified measure of the disability.

Equality and Non-Discrimination

One of the fundamental principles that runs through the entire RPD Act is the principle of equality. Section 3 of the Act captures the recognition of the right to equality and non-discrimination. Certain clauses of the provision impose a positive obligation on the government. For instance, Section 3(1) of the RPD Act mandates that the Government “ensure that the persons with disabilities enjoy the right to equality, life with dignity and respect for his or her integrity equally with others.”8 Further, the Government is obligated to “take steps to utilise the capacity of persons with disabilities by providing appropriate environment.’’9 The government is also responsible to “take necessary steps to ensure reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.”10

These provisions impose significant positive responsibility on the government to ensure that persons with disabilities can attain full enjoyment of their rights on an equal footing with others.11 Of these, an important feature is the provision of “reasonable accommodation” to persons with disabilities. According to its definition under the Act, reasonable accommodation means “necessary and appropriate modifications and adjustments” to ensure that persons with disabilities can enjoy and exercise rights equally with others. However, such reasonable accommodation must not impose a “disproportionate or undue burden in a particular case”. Provision of reasonable accommodation

has been a frequent demand, when faced with barriers to equal opportunities in education, employment etc. For instance, provision of extended time and scribes to persons with visual impairment during examination is a reasonable accommodation that promotes accessibility. It must be emphasized that the accommodation that must be made should cater to every individual barrier faced by each person with disability. Mere blanket accommodation cannot be considered reasonable accommodation if the modifications made donot address the individual barriers of the person with disability. For instance, a policy of providing braille books in primary school is of no use to a child with visual impairment if such child cannot read braille. Therefore, an effort to provide reasonable accommodation in case of such a child would include a provision to provide some level of training in reading braille. Persons with disabilities and activists of disability rights must advocate for “reasonable accommodation” to be interpreted on an individual basis in every case.

Section 3 also contains prohibitions against discrimination. Section 3(3) of the Act provides that “No person with disability shall be discriminated on the ground of disability, unless it is shown that the impugned act or omission is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.” Therefore, any discrimination made must be proportionate to achieving a legitimate aim. What can be considered a “legitimate aim”? How proportionality is measured? These are determinations that require a careful balance to be struck on a case-by-case basis. These acts of balancing – the determination of what is a “reasonable” accommodation, the determination of a ‘legitimate aim’ that is ‘proportionate’ to discrimination- need to be constantly assessed and monitored by the civil society to ensure that the government takes

8 See Section 3(1) ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.9 See Section 3(2) ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.10 See Section 3(5) ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.11 See Section 2(y) ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.

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12 See Section 6(1) ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.13 Id at Section 6(2). 14 Id at Section 7. 15 Id at Section 4. 16 Id at Section 9(2).

17 Id at Section 10(1).18 Id at Section 10(2).19 See Section 11 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’. 20 See Section 12 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’

progressive steps towards ensuring equality and non-discrimination of persons with disability.

Safety

Chapter 2 of the Act contains various provisions that reiterate the right of a person with disability to be safe and free from cruel and inhuman treatment, abuse, violence and exploitation. Section 6 obligates the Government to ensure that no person with disability shall be subject to torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.12 Further, the provision also prohibits persons with disability from being subjects of any research without their consent and without the prior permission of a Committee for Research on Disability.13 The Government is also obligated to take measures to protect persons with disabilities from all forms of abuse, violence and exploitation.14 For this, the Executive Magistrate, on receipt of any information of abuse, violence etc., has the power and the duty to make necessary protective orders. These orders include orders to rescue the victim with police help, protective custody orders and maintenance orders. The powers of the Executive Magistrate are in addition to the powers of the police to take action as per law. Therefore, special measures are made available under Section 7 to protect persons with disabilities from violence and abuse.

Rights of Woman and Child and Bodily Integrity

The Act contains certain provisions that recognize specifically the rights of women and children. Section 4 obligates the government to take measures to ensure that women and children with disabilities enjoy equal rights with others and that children with disabilities have equal rights to express about their needs and are provided with appropriate support.15 Section 9 prohibits the separation of a child from the parents except when it is in the best interests of the child. Where

the parents of a child with disability are unable to care for the child, the Act prescribes that “the competent court shall place such child with his or her near relations, and failing that within the community in a family setting or in exceptional cases in shelter home run by the appropriate Government or non-governmental organization.”16

The Act also recognizes the right to bodily integrity by providing protections on reproductive rights of persons with disability. The government has the duty to ensure that persons with disabilities have access to appropriate information regarding reproductive and family planning.17 Further, Section 10(2) prohibits any medical procedure which leads to infertility of persons with disability without their consent.18

Access

Several provisions of the Act deal with providing persons with disabilities access to facilities and options that have historically been unavailable to them. For instance, the Act obligates the Election authorities to ensure that all polling stations are accessible to persons with disabilities and all electoral material is easily accessible and understandable.19 The Government is mandated to ensure that all persons with disabilities have equal access to the justice system and face no barriers in approaching various courts, tribunals etc., and have the necessary support from the legal aid services to avail any free legal assistance.20

The Central Government is dutybound to formulate rules laying down the standards of accessibility for the physical environment, transportation, information and communications, etc., in urban and rural areas.21 Access measures include ensuring that transport facilities such as bus stops, railway stations and airports, and the relevant modes of transport including the vehicles are all

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designed and retrofitted to be accessible to persons with disabilities.22 Similarly infrastructure such as buildings and public spaces must also conform to the accessibility norms as formulated by the Central Government. In fact, the Act prohibits the grant of building license to any construction that does not comply with such accessibility norms.23 In case of existing government buildings, the Act lays down a limit of five years from the date of the formulation of Central Government norms for compliance with the accessibility mandate.24

The mandate of accessibility also extends to information and technology. The government is to ensure that all audio, print and electronic media content are available in accessible format and that electronic goods and equipment are available in a universal design.25 Private service providers are obligated to comply with the central government accessibility norms within two months from their introduction.26

Accessibility is an essential part of the feature of “reasonable accommodation” discussed above. Rights of persons with disabilities will be a reality only if such persons are able to access those environments that are historically denied to them. Therefore, accessibility provisions also must be read in light of the actual needs of each individual with disability.

Legal Capacity

One of the most important recognitions under the RPD Act is the recognition of the legal capacity of every person with disability. The Act recognizes that persons with disabilities “have right, equally with others, to own or inherit property, movable or immovable, control their financial affairs and have access to bank loans, mortgages and other forms of financial credit.”27 The government is to

ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy equal recognition and protection of the law and enjoy legal capacity on an equal basis with others.28 Therefore, all persons with disability, have the right to possess legal rights equally and exercise those rights as a person with full capacity.

The issue of legal capacity becomes very important specifically in cases where the person with disability is dependent on the support of others. The Act prohibits the support provider from exercising any undue influence on the person with disability.29 It is also clarified that in case of a conflict between the person with disability and the support-provider regarding any financial, property or economic transaction, the support-provider shall abstain from providing support for that specific transaction.30 The person with disability also has the right to modify, dismantle and seek a different support arrangement.31 Therefore, the Act prescribes certain protocol to be followed in providing support and deferring to the determination of the persons with disability in exercising their legal capacity and altering their support arrangements.

Legal Capacity is also important in determining the nature and extent of guardianship of a person with disability. The need to strike a balance between appointing a guardian and recognizing legal capacity arises most often in cases where the mental capacity of a person with disability is to be assessed. The Act allows a District Court or a State government appointed authority to allow for limited support of a legal guardian where the court or authority finds that the person with disability is unable to take legally binding decisions despite adequate support.32 “Limited guardianship” is explained as “a system of joint decision which operates on mutual understanding

27 See Section 13 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.28 See Section 13 (2) ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.29 See Section 13 (5) ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.30 See Section 13 (3) ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.31 See Section 13 (4) ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.32 See Section 13 (4) ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.

21 See Section 40 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.22 See Section 41 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.23 See Section 44 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.24 See Section 45 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.25 See Section 42 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.26 See Section 46 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.

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and trust between the guardian and the person with disability, which shall be limited to a specific period and for specific decision and situation and shall operate in accordance to the will of the person with disability.”33 The explanation clarified that even in case of a limited guardianship, the will of the person with disability is what dictates the decision-making. The guardian merely acts as an additional support to take legally binding decisions. The Act clarifies that all guardianships that have been granted under any other law shall now be considered as limited guardianship only.34 This is again to ensure that persons with disability have all possible opportunities to exercise their legal capacity and take legally binding decisions. However, the Act makes one exception to this: it allows for total guardianship where a person with disability “requires such support” or where limited guardianship is to be approved repeatedly.35

The provisions on guardianship are quite vague and confusing in their prescription of limited and total guardianship. On the one hand, the Act boldly declares that all guardianships under any law shall now be recognized only as limited guardianships, thereby leaning towards eliminating any possibility of a total guardianship and giving precedence to the legal capacity of the persons with disability. However, on the other hand, it provides an exception to this rule by allowing total guardianship on a very broad standard (“where a person with disability requires such support”). This vests the discretion completely in the court or the designated authority to grant limited or total guardianship. This brings into question the effectiveness of any recognition of the legal capacity of the person with disability.

Education

The Act introduces several provisions to prescribing and promoting an inclusive education system

that allows children with disabilities to integrate into educational institutions. All government-funded or recognized educational institutions have a duty to promote inclusive education by undertaking various positive measures such as admitting children with disabilities without discrimination and providing education and opportunities for sports and recreation activities equally with others; making building, campus and various facilities accessible; providing reasonable accommodation according to the individual’s requirements; providing necessary individualised support; ensuring that the education is imparted in the most appropriate languages or means of communication; detecting specific learning disabilities in children at the earliest and taking suitable measures to overcome them; monitoring student participation and progress; providing transportation facilities.36

The Government and local authorities are obligated to undertake a survey of school going children in every five years for identifying children with disabilities, ascertaining their special needs and the extent to which these are being met.37 Such a survey must be conducted within a time-period of two years from the date of the commencement of the Act.38 The Act also obligates the government to provide necessary supportive facilities such as the establishment of teacher training institutions that enable teachers to teach children with disabilities according to their special needs; establishment of resource centres; provision of supportive teaching material and equipment such as braille books and assistive devices free of cost to children with benchmark disabilities; provision of scholarships and allowing suitable modifications in the curriculum and examination system etc.39

The Act introduces some special provisions in case of education of children with benchmark

33 See Section 14 Explanation ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.34 See Section 14 (2) ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.35 See Section 14(1) Proviso ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.

36 See Section 16 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.37 See Section 17 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.38 See Section 17 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.39 See Section 17 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.

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disabilities. The government is to ensure that every child with benchmark disability has the right to access free education till she is 18 years of age.40 All government and aided institutions imparting higher education must reserve 5% of the admission seats for persons with benchmark disabilities and provide an upper age relaxation of five years for admission to their institutions.41

The provisions on the right to education of persons with disabilities impose a wide set of duties on the government and local authorities to provide necessary facilities and establish adequate infrastructure to ensure equal access to education. It must be noted that the RPD Act is not the sole legislation on the right to education of children. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 also imposes an obligation on government schools to provide free primary education to all children in the neighbourhood. Further private aided and unaided schools are obligated to reserve a specified percentage of seats for children from weaker and disadvantaged sections. Children with Disabilities also form a part of this reserved class, among other children. Therefore it remains to be seen as to how the provisions on free education to children with benchmark disabilities is implemented and coordinated among the authorities under the two legislations. Further, Section 16 of the RPD Act is not clear as to which schools are obligated to fulfill the various duties of inclusive education cast on the institutions, such as non-discriminatory admission, provision of inclusive education, mandatory compliance of accessibility features of school campus etc. Section 16 claims to apply to “recognized” schools as well. Under the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009, all schools must obtain recognition from the government to be able to function. Therefore, it is

not clear as to whether the duties under Section 16 apply to private schools as well.

Employment

Chapter IV of the Act mainly deals with skill development and employment rights of persons with disabilities. The Act mandates the government to formulate schemes and programmes including provision of loans at concessional rates to facilitate and support employment of persons with disabilities especially for their vocational training and self-employment.42 Among other varied measures, the schemes must provide for inclusion of and adequate support for persons with disabilities in all formal and non-formal vocational.43

Section 20 contains a clear prohibition against any discrimination, in employment against a person with disability in any government establishment. Similarly, the Act prohibits denial of promotion or reduction in rank by reason of disability of any person.44 However, the government may, if the nature of the work requires, exempt certain posts from the non-discrimination prohibition.45 Thus, the government may identify certain posts as unfit for certain persons with disability depending on the nature of the post. The government is to constitute an expert committee that will identify posts suitable for the different categories of persons with benchmark disabilities and review the list of identified posts every three years.46 In every government establishment, 4% of the posts shall be reserved for persons with benchmark disabilities, out of which one percent each shall be reserved for blindness and low vision; deaf and hard of hearing; locomotor disability including cerebral palsy, leprosy cured, dwarfism, acid attack victims and muscular dystrophy. In the remaining 2% of posts, one percent each shall be

40 See Section 31 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.41 See Section 32 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.42 See Section 19 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’43 Id.

44 See Section 20 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.45 See Section 20(1) proviso ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.46 See Section 33 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.

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reserved for autism, intellectual disability, specific learning disability and mental illness; and multiple disabilities.47 The government also has the duty to incentivize the private sector to ensure that 5% of the workforce is filled with persons with disabilities.48

The government is obligated to provide reasonable accommodation and appropriate barrier free and conducive environment to employees with disability.49 However, if the employee acquires a disability and becomes unsuitable for the post, she shall be shifted to some other post with the same pay scale and grade.50 If such a shift is not possible, she may be retained in a superannuary post till a suitable post becomes available or continue in such superannuary post.51

The RPD Act also imposes certain obligations on private establishments. Section 21 of the Act obligates all establishments to notify an equal opportunity policy and register it with the Chief Commissioner or the State Commissioner.52 Further, every establishment should maintain records of the persons with disabilities in relation to the matter of employment, facilities provided and other necessary information in compliance with the provisions of Act.53 Government establishments are mandated to appoint a Grievance Redressal Officer to register and take up complaints with the establishments.54

Special Court

One of the significant developments under the Act is the establishment of a Special Court to try offence under the Act. The Court is to be set up in each district to provide speedy trial, acting as a Court of Session to try the offences under this Act. The State Government may also specify a

Public Prosecutor as a Special Public Prosecutor for the purpose of conducting cases in that Court. This is a specialized system that is set up to specifically cater to the offences against persons with disabilities. The implementation of several mandatory provisions of the Act depends on the efficient functioning of the Special Court.

Conclusion

This article is not exhaustive in covering the entire Act and all its provisions. The Act contains other provisions on social security, health, registration of organisations, certification of persons with disabilities etc., that lay down certain detailed provisions on the structuring of the rights of persons with disabilities. However, this article attempts to mark some important provisions that are especially new and significant contributions of the RPD Act. It is too soon to make any comments on the working of the RPD Act. The Act was born from a solid foundation of the principles of CRPD. The provisions of the Act indicate very significant steps towards laying down time -bound accessibility features, recognizing the legal capacity of persons with disability, ensuring inclusive education and employment environments and stressing the importance of reasonable accommodation at all levels. Therefore, it can be surely said that the Act could potentially work as a powerful tool for the disability rights activists and advocates to achieve equal and full enjoyment of the rights of persons with disabilities. The coming few years will be crucial in making the Act impactful by ensuring that there are progressive measures towards implementing the various duties cast on the government and private entities.

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47 See Section 34 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.48 See Section 35 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.49 See Section 20 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.50 Id

51 Id52 See Section 21 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.53 See Section 22 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.54 See Section 23 ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’.

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There is no denying the fact that women in India have made a considerable progress in almost seven decades of Independence, but they still have to struggle against many handicaps and social evils in the male-dominated society. Many evil and masculine forces still prevail in the modern Indian society that resists the forward march of its women folk. It is ironical that a country, which has recently acclaimed the status of the first Asian country to accomplish its Mars mission in the maiden attempt, is positioned at the 29th rank among 146 countries across the globe on the basis of Gender Inequality Index. There has been amelioration in the position of women, but their true empowerment is still awaited.

Swami Vivekananda rightly said that, there is no chance for the welfare of the world unless the condition of women is improved, and when it comes to women with disability the condition is real pathetic. According to the senses of India 2.68 crore are persons with disability and out of which 50% are women.

We must understand that no bird can fly with one wing then how can society progress without upliftment of women. Thus, in order to achieve the status of a developed country, India needs to transform its colossal women force into an effective human resource and this is possible only through the empowerment of women.

Therefore in order to increase the number of women working and contributing for the development of country we must give them favourable atmosphere so that they can grow substantially. For that three important things must be done...

- Social attitude must be changed

even today more than 60% of the families don’t allow their daughters to go out for studying, stay in hostels, go to places for work etc. and when it comes to women with disability this figure is unimaginably low. That needs to be changed. Unless and until we will start treating them equally capable how will they be able to come forward? Till when they have to keep proving them that they have the capability?

Women have been proving themselves in large number of fields. They have attained the highest of positions in corporate world but still society wants them to prove further? even in today’s world when women with disability has been getting good jobs and has been coming forward with lot of talent, when a disable daughter is born they treat her like a burden for the family, they don’t educate her so sending her for work is out of question. It is unbelievable that in villages still when a sister of a deaf girl gets married, they send her along. They don’t even think how horrid her life would become! So first and foremost thing is social attitude which needs to be changed at any cost then only women will be able to come forward freely.

- Education

To change the mentality of people the main thing is the proper education. If the women will get proper education she will definitely be able to prove what this male dominated society wants to be proven. Still priority is given to making them learn household chores rather than educating them. We cannot blame only males for not letting them come

More Women into Social Fold

- Danish Mahajan Radio Udaan

Women Empowerment

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forward, it’s the society as a whole. Unless and until society will start giving the same importance to the carrier of a female just like a male, giving them proper education is out of question.

And for women with disability families don’t even think of their education and letting them going out on the name of safety.

At an early age, girls are conditioned to move toward different paths than boys. So if you think about boys when they’re young, they’re involved in clubs that make things, and they use their hands, and they get involved with mechanical thinking. Girls don’t tend to be as encouraged to move into those sorts of play or toward those kinds of interests. As they evolve in their middle-school and high-school years, the girls’ level of interest in technology continues to decline, and they are less likely to pursue interests in these areas, and stick with them, as compared with the boys. So in order to bring more women into the social fold we must encourage women from very beginning, we should educate them and should encourage them to connect with technology and think of their future as a working women rather them sitting at home and not doing anything.

even if we think of our economy it becomes our duty to encourage women for the progress of society otherwise all the economic resources which women uses to grow will be wasted as when the time to give back to the society comes women is not allowed to contribute.

- Employment with accessible environment

Even after struggling with family and convincing them, when women go out for work, the environment is pathetic there. Everyone looks with a different prospective. Some will treat them as an object of pleasure and some will treat them as less capable. Though all this has been changing but a lot of change is still awaited.

So the key to bringing more women to social fold is awareness, education and acceptance.

for that lot of things can be done like awareness campaigns for families, ensuring women security, giving them quality education, giving them proper training, political reservation, and advocate for them to move into roles or be exposed to projects and types of jobs that maybe they wouldn’t have otherwise had access to or known about.

Moreover, no group or team is complete without women. Society looks healthier and progressive when both men and women go together.

We as a team of radioudaan, are working towards achieving this goal. From last three years we have been working to empower women, spread awareness, advocate for them, sensitize the society towards the powers of women, trying our level best to connect them with technology, educating them and helping them to think high.

We have been arranging awareness campaigns for promoting inclusiveness, arranging classes for them to learn technology, we arrange cultural programmes so that they can display their talent, helping them to find their suitable life partners through matrimonial programmes and we give them equal opportunities for public speaking and become leaders.

In short, in order to bring more women into the social fold our vision for men and women should be equal. When a child is born in a family, we should treat the child as a child not as a boy child or girl child, and then only we will do their grooming equally and give a respectable position to both equally.

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Personality Development for Visually Challenged Women

Proper grooming and judicious make-up skills play a significant part in mainstreaming visually impaired girls/women. To actually be able to present a capable image and to project your true qualities to the seeing world, a sound education and good etiquettes must be coupled with acceptable and appropriate appearance. I say this, because usually one is largely judged by appearance and only if that is pleasant and appealing, do the other qualities get due attention. Thus, I propose to share some useful tips related to enhancing your appearance resulting in a boost to the success you will achieve.

Wont it be a dream come true?

I wish to emphasize that both packaging and content must be excellent for any product / person to succeed.

Today visually impaired women and girls are striving to acquire all possible qualifications and skills, yet they are not being able to glide into the mainstream with ease. It may be the question of a job or marriage; the preference usually goes in the favor of sighted ladies. Most blind women have within themselves ample substance to come at power with their sighted counterparts, then where lies the gap?

Being a reasonably successful visually impaired blind woman myself, I have largely identified the tools and skills to bridge the existing gap. I can assure you that a pleasing personality clubbed with appropriate qualifications will help visually impaired women carve out their rightful space in mainstream society.

Fashion is one thing and grooming plus make-up is all together another. It is no use to go dressed in

the height of fashion when you have unkept hands with nail polish pealing off and a hair style that does not suit you. Imagine going out with a red saree and a pink blouse with a maroon lipstick and a purple handbag? And to top it all you get behind yellow rimmed goggles! Just because these colors are all in fashion! On the other hand, if you have managed to acquire unpleasant body odor and bad breath due to some reason, no amount of spraying deodorant or perfume can rid you of the same! I know there is a lot of advertisement about simply attaining freshness just by applying certain products, but there is more to this, which we will soon be talking about in detail. When unpleasant body odors mingle with cosmetics, it becomes even worse: therefore please read the following information with utmost care.

Personal hygiene & Cleanliness :

It is absolutely essential to follow basic rules of personal hygiene. A daily bath is a must, using soap and remembering to scrub ears, neck and feet. The soap need not be an expensive one at all; ordinary bath soap will do just perfectly. Application of a deodorant or an anti perspierent / talc to keep fowl smells at bay is advisable. For maximum affectivity, please apply these on the bare skin of your under arms and not on top of your clothes. Note: I repeat, apply these deodorants only after washing the area (or properly bathing) with soap and water. To successfully keep bad breath away, bare in mind, you must brush your teeth twice a day with a good toothbrush and regular toothpaste, first thing in the morning and the second time, last thing before going to bed. And, in case it is possible, during the day, rinse your mouth with

- Ms. Preethi Monga Director Silverlining Delhi

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water after you have eaten. This you can do as many times as possible as this will keep the fowl smelling bacteria away from your mouth and keep your breath fresh and teeth healthy. You can also keep a mint chewing gum or some eliechi (green cardamom), handy to keep your mouth clean and breath smelling fresh.

There is nothing better than fowl smells to put off another human being. Wearing unwashed clothes are another common factor for exuding repulsive stench even though you have taken the above-mentioned steps!

Next, it is your hair: This too needs to be kept clean and shining all the time. To achieve this, you need to cultivate a regular hair care regime consisting of oiling, shampooing and combing/brushing. To derive the best results, oil your scalp and hair with the oil of your choice at least 30 minutes before washing and there after, use a mild shampoo to wash off the oil and dirt. While you are waiting to allow your hair soak in the oil, you can wrap a damp towel soaked in hot water around your head to help the oil to reach the roots of the hair for proper nourishment before you wash it off. Also, you may like to use a good conditioner to give that extra bounce and shine to the hair. It is a good idea to hena (mehendi) your hair regularly. In case hena suits you, it can take care of conditioning as well as protecting your hair. If hena is what you decide to use, you would need to soak it overnight in tea water with a teaspoon of fenugreek (methi) powder for better results. Monthly application of hena will do very well, with great results. If you have dandruff in your hair, you can try adding lemon juice or vinegar to the hair oil and use this to massage the scalp before washing it off with shampoo.

As the trends go today, hair color is something that may sound most appealing to you. Well, it just may be the thing on your mind and you may fancy to either streak your hair with color or you may even wish to change the color of your hair altogether.

Now, you would need to be careful with this one! Here it would be best if you could take the help and advice of your family /friends to locate the color that will go best for your hair type and skin tone. You may also think of taking professional advice on this one. But, a word of caution: consult more than one person for getting an honest feedback on the color suitability for you. Be most aware when you do go in for hair color: follow the instructions mentioned on the label of the hair color package and do the testing for reactions before going ahead.

Before we move on, it is important we stop a moment and talk about hairstyle. Again there are fashionable haircuts, and please… do not just go in for the one everyone is having done! You have to take into consideration various details before you discover the best style for your hair. The texture, thickness, color, and the shape of your face and your height must be taken into account before you take a decision on the hairstyle you are going to wear. At times, the place where you are going to must be well thought-out, as different situations require you to present different looks. For example: it is not a good idea to wear flashy hair clips and ribbons in a professional setting, here you may like to tie your hair in a neat bun or a very sober style. And, if you are going for a party, you may treat yourself with bows and ribbons and glitter in your hair! Although, I could try to give you guidelines as to the procedure of choosing your hairstyle, it would be a better idea to once more take the advice of a hair stylist or even some friends and family members.

So with your hair taken care of, we are going to move on to a very important and tricky subject: Skin Care!

Let us begin with the skin of your face. Rule number one: without mention, the skin of your face must be kept clean. You can use plane soap, a packaged face wash or something out of your kitchen like gram flour / wheat flour mixed with a little milk /

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curd to wash your face. Before you decide on what you will use to wash your face with, spend some time and discover your skin type. Do you have an oily or a dry skin? Or is it that you have a normal skin type? Here is a tip on how you can test it for yourself:

The best time to test your skin type would be the time when you wake up in the morning. Do not use any creams / moisturizer before you take this test, not even on the previous night and make sure you wash your face properly with soap / face wash before having gone to bed. Run your fingers over your face starting from the forehead. (Please ensure your hands are washed and clean and your face has not yet been washed). Begin by running your fingers along the forehead and then down your cheeks. Then slide your fingers over your nose and chin. Notice the amount of oiliness you feel in each area. In case you find the entire face oily, you are a person with a highly oily skin type. And if the greasiness is only in the center of your face, (forehead, nose and chin); you have a fairly normal skin type. If you find no Greece on your face, and your skin feels tight and dry, you are a person with a dry skin type. Note: I repeat, please do not cream or oil your face the night previous to conducting this test on yourself or else you may not have a true picture.

Once you have determined your skin type, you will be in a good position to choose cosmetics and other skin care products for yourself. For people with dry skin, use a good skin cream and moisturizer for your face as often as you feel the dryness. Fresh cream from milk, olive oil or just plain home -made butter may be used at night to lavishly soften your skin. Remember, even though you have a dry skin, cleaning it is as important as it is for anyone else. You can use a soft moisturizing soap or gram flour (basen) mixed with milk to wash your face at least twice a day. You can use the same for bathing too.

If you have an oily skin, you need to be extra alert with your cleaning routine. You would need to wash

your face many times a day using again a good soft soap or gram flour but you need not mix it with milk. Instead just use plain water to make a paste out of the gram flour and gently scrub your skin with the mixture before rinsing it off. Note: even though you have an oily skin type, nourishment is required. For this, give yourself a face pack twice a week. Here is what you can do out of the kitchen: Mix together juice of one lemon, cucumber and some sandalwood powder along with a pinch of multani miti. Mix well and apply on face and neck avoiding the area of eyes and lips. Leave to dry for 15 minutes and then rinse off with water. This will make your face look clean and help close the open pores. You can also use a face scrub once or twice a week to avoid blackheads and pimples.

A normal skin type also requires care: Again, washing and nourishing must be carried out regularly, two to three times a day. You too can use a face wash or soft soap with moisturizer or gram flour and curd for the washing regime. A normal face pack would be good for you: mix together basen, mashed banana, pinch of sandal wood powder and rosewater. Apply the mixture over the face and neck avoiding the area around the eyes and lips and leave for 15 minutes before washing off with water. In summer you may like to also give yourself a good ice treatment: simply rub an ice cube on the skin of your face for a minute or so and see the results.

There are a lot many home recepies for using to improve the skin of your face and you can slowly try them and discover which one of the combinations suit your skin type best. But to have a glowing skin at all times, it is mandatory to drink at least 2 liters of water every day. At least 10 to 12 glasses without fail!

Makeup

Now that you have learnt all about caring for your skin, I am sure you are eager to know how to get make up on? Well, just a moment, at all times

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remember a light touch of color is all that you need if you have a naturally glowing complexion. It is not a good idea to paint your face with all the foundations and make up liquids available in the market. All that you may like to use is a sunscreen lotion to protect your naturally shining skin. You may like to keep a small compact powder case with you to wipe out the unnecessary oil during the day where it is not possible to wash it instead. But before you go out and buy your powder compact or foundation, (if you insist) it is mandatory to match it with the color of your skin. You may ask the shop assistant to match the color with the skin color of the inside of your writ. And, last but not the least; please use the foundation/powder evenly on your face and neck right down to the neckline of your dress. Stay away from using blusher in the day time altogether. But for an evening party you can dab on a little bit. Use this before the powder and here is a tip… While applying the blush on the rouge that is, bring your lips to a smile, just lightly dab the color on the part of the cheeks which form the high point softly moving the brush in upward movements going about an inch or so. There after just lightly apply the face powder over the whole face for a good subtle look.

A lipstick is a very good cosmetic for you. Once again please take care as to the color. Choose according to your skin color, color of your dress and time of day. In case you would like to use a lip liner, please use the exact color of the lipstick you are going to use. Different color of lip liner and lipstick look real bad.

A bindi is a lovely spot to wear but again, please only wear the bindi with Indian dresses. Keep it away if you are dressing in western clothes. Also, choose the colors and sizes according to the shape that suit you and the clothes you are wearing.

Eye make up is not a very good idea for visually impaired girls/women as it will only attract undue attention to your week point. Only, keep your eyebrows well shaped by regular visits to your

beauty parlor. Also a word of caution here, some of you may face undue amount of facial hair. If this is the case get your beauty expert to help you with it.

We are going to now talk about your nails: They are always in full view of people. A lot of the times you are judged solely by the condition of your nails and heels. So, even though we may feel the need to ignore them we better think again!

In case you are not in the favor of growing your nails, they must be cut once a week. If you fancy long nails, you need to clean them many times a day as dirt collects under constantly. Long nails must be well shaped always: pointed nails are not what look good; the entire nail must be oval in shape. By all means you can paint your nails but please make sure nails are well kept and the polish is not pealing off. The nails on your feet are just as important: (toe nails) as they are better referred to. Follow the same care instructions for toe nails as well. You may like to go in for a manicure and a pedicure once in a month. This will take care of all the dead skin and stubborn dirt clinging on to your hands and feet. To do the same at home, you can soak both hands and feet in warm water for 10 minutes, (add a cap full of shampoo to the warm water) for good results. There after clean both hands and feet with a soft brush and cut the nails. Give them a massage with a good cream for the next 10 minutes. You will really enjoy soft and clean hands and feet with shining nails!

To maintain nail polish, it would be a good idea to remove polish every alternate day and then repaint nails of hands, feet can be repolished weekly.

Stick to the same color on both hands and feet. To keep on the safe side, choose colors, which would match your skin tone and also match most colors you may wear. It would be advisable to get sighted family / friends to help select colors for you. Normally it is a good idea to wear natural transparent nail polish.

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Body posture

To now be able to let your hard work come through and have the desired effect, it is an absolute must to look at your posture/body language. A bent head with drooping shoulders and a slouching back topped with a sloppy walk will dilute all your efforts to make the impression you wish to make.

You can improve your posture by standing with your head, heels, shoulders and back touching the wall. Pull your stomach in and stay in this position for at least 10 minutes every day. Practice walking with heavy books balanced on your head without holding them for at least 15 minutes every day. Sit back in your chair with the lower back in contact with the base of the backrest of the chair for a smart and in command look, (this is also good for your health). Slowly your body will adapt to being upright which will make you look smart and also keep you away from health hazards caused by wrong posture.

Dressing

Once you have the above basics taken care of, you need to focus on your dress. While doing so, a number of aspects need to be considered. You need to visualize the place you would be going to and the occasion you would be attending. The time of day and season need to be kept in mind. For example, a mini skirt with a spegaty top may not be the suitable wear for a cold winter morning! It is important to select the colors and styles that enhance your looks. That is, if you have very slender shoulders, a few gathers on your sleeves may do magic but if you have broad

shoulders; gathered sleeves may be a disaster. Thus it is crucial to know your body structure and skin color. If you have any doubts of what may look good on you please don’t hesitate to take professional help, you can also get your family / friends to advice you on the same. Keep your ears open to compliments and try to keep to clothes, which get you the maximum heartfelt applause.

Note: please wear garments, which are clean and well ironed. It is a must to wash every garment before reusing it.

Last but not the least; make physical exercise a part of your daily routine. This will keep you in good health and shape adding to your self-esteem and confidence.

All this done and you still have your social skills to watch. Do not dig your nose or ears in public; you may not know who is watching you. Refrain from scratching yourself all over. Look towards the person you are talking with and remember your manners. Please do not shake your head, legs or shoulders unnecessarily this looks very awkward.

The contents of this article may sound not worth worrying about but the moment you have consciously adopted all the rules, you will see the change in the attitude of people towards you. With your qualifications and skills along with now a pleasing well-groomed personality in place, your disability will take a back seat allowing confidence to get behind the wheel to drive you on the road to success!

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The time to be happy is now. The place to be happy is here. The way to be happy is to make others so.

- Robert G. Ingersoll

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Yes, she is blind, so what? She is doing B A. God has given her such beauty that even a self-restrained sober man would faint looking at her: the aunt would often come in summer holidays and looking at Vijaya would talk like this only. Now Vijaya had become used to such talks. Helpless and constrained person finds solace in silence.

Today the day was very hot in Indore; there was almost no wind at all. With heat and sultriness the earth was quite taciturn; it appeared as if it was unable to breathe.

Vijaya was alone on the terrace of her house, putting her cot she spread her beddings and lay down. Her heart was nervous; there was a strange restlessness in the waves of which her present and future seemed to be bobbing up and down. The weather inside her was also suffocating. In such suffocating and agitated state of mind one takes refuge in the memory of past joys only. She kept on remembering the hostel of the blind school in Delhi. How many facilities and amenities were there to enjoy. Besides, the unparalleled joys of the company of friends when throughout the day and night there would be carefree life as if God had created us only for this carefree joyous life. On the slate of her memory many pictures popped up together

Girls! Let us play Antayakhsheri( a game of poetry and songs). With this call the girls who were scattered near their belongings like cupboard and beds etc. would collect together in a minute. In no time many bed would be joined together and the whole group would be divided into two parties. Laughing we would start the Antyakhsheri. While singing one or two romantic songs the girls would double up laughing.

Sing by the letter-m! No then sing whatever you want, saying this someone would start singing ‘Ab Aaan milo sajna’. The second would say- oh no! Not right now. The third one sang-‘Hum tumse mile phir juda ho gaye’. Somebody else’s sound came- well, where and when did you meet? Do tell us. Another said – Oh! Where did you get lost? At least give your address. Amidst the laughter someone muttered- Oh! Leave it, remove this hot spice. Immediately putting hands on someone’s shoulders one girl said-why your mouth is burning? The wave of laughter kept on rising, till somebody’s voice came from some bank-let us play cards.

A voice is raised from the waves—the house of cards gets destroyed easily, Rani. You know no home is ever made without spices?

Another one comments—Hey wise girls! Let us play a wise game.

Instantly a voice rises—wisdom means?

Another voice from the end—wisdom means make the queen meet the king do not put the brick in between.

Somebody said laughing—if a detective bird like you is an obstacle in rasleela( the sports of Krishana and Gopis or an enactment on the stage about the exploits of Krishna) immediately shoo her away.

Again there was the same whimsical mirthful laughter and an expansion of carefree ocean of joy. Cards would be dealt; there is too little of play and more of gossip.

SOMEONE WOULD SAY—I like ace very much and expelled a sigh-don’t know where my ace is?

The other would say—definitely all the four aces

The Gift

- Dr. Kusumalatha

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are with her only. Her sigh has told everything.

Quickly another one said—save the Lanka of your cards, ‘ghar ka bhedi Lanka dhave’ (one who knows the secret of the house proves worst enemy)

Another girl said—Look here dear Madame of aces! Right now you are trying to be a big ‘sati Savitri’, we will see you later.

Quickly the answer came—don’t try to hamper our freedom you ‘Das Namberi’ speak your preference.

Now the answer came—hey the owner of aces, the supreme spirit! I love the slave; the one who is servile will rule my heart.

A voice came—save your aces even from her shadow lest they become her slaves.

Some would say-if she did not get slave she would destroy everything by striking with bricks, isn’t it Rani!

Then again there was chirping of a group of birds, such liberated unrestrained fit of laughter as if thousands of birds are chirping with joy and ease. If time throws its net it can restrain them otherwise nobody can restrain them. Amidst this ‘anhadnad’ a voice came up—ok. Friends! It’s enough leave this ‘dil -bil’, king and queens and the stories of slaves and aces, start using your brains.

Someone said-- are the worms wriggling in your brains?

The second one said—you said right thing now, the worms eating her heart have ascended to her top floor.

Another girl said—hai, what will happen to her now her heart has been eaten by termites?

Now the one who was getting defeated took out a weapon in her defence—now soldiers and not the worms are deployed in my brain. There would be a dreadful war.

All said ok.

She tells again—come let us play chess.

Again the same running about, beating and scratching, laughter jokes and shouting continued, nobody knew who was having which ‘goti’ and who was having the pawn of the chess.

We would mimic our teachers, would tell jokes, would laugh and make others laugh too. Here nobody would mind talking about dirty and clumsy jokes, whatever came to the mind would be spoken out. There would be stories of ghosts, tales of saints also, witches’ insolence and hellcats’ sorceries also. So many girls would tell with firm beliefs that their eyes were taken away by one of these evil beings. Someone was chased by a ghost, while a witch held the other tightly in her childhood. Someone’s family had earned the curse of some saint or someone’s eye balls were taken out ghosts. On the other hand someone’s neighbourhood was the homestead of witches and bad spirits for that she had to pay the penalty by losing their eyesight.

With such tales and stories the girls would calm down, and all laughter joking would drown in the dark depths of these tales. Here they would shrink in the dark pits of fear leaving all the enjoyment of the liberated nature of life’s joys where illusions and fear ruled supreme. At that very time the supervisor would come on round and would shout—Oh girls! What is happening? Why are you sitting in a group? With the advent of reality the ghost of fear had to take to heels leaving behind its minimum traces. Someone would say—nothing sister! Trying to arrange somebody’s engagement.

The supervisor would be irritated and would shout—what did you say?

The color of enjoyment would get deeper and all of us said almost in her tone arousing compassionate sentiments—nothing sister, we said nothing, we were saying just like that…

Ultimately, banging the door repeatedly with her disciplinary staff she would go back.

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Someone would say—let her go! At least this wandering soul will have peace.

Again for hours there would be laughter and making each other laugh. It appeared as if there is nothing like future in this world. Nobody’s face would show any sign worry. None had the worry about the present or the future, if by mistake some girl would become serious or say something about seriousness, our talk would turn on holidays.

What are you going to do in holidays?

We would eat drink and sleep, what else?

Those girls whose parents have left them in the blind school years ago and never came to meet, one of them would say—look here, our job is very important, we would keep the tradition of charity alive and would keep the hostel spick and span.

Someone else said—why not, so that the germs of your diseases may be killed.

Some intelligent girl would say—think about your studies also. It seemed everybody had become her enemy, one would say—why are you giving us your disease? Whatever you do we should follow your steps,’Mahajano yen gatah sah pantha’, (wherever the great men walk that is the right way).The other said—oh! No, no ‘mahadevi yen gatah sah pantha’. Another said—yes! The blind pushes the blind and both of them fall in the well. Another girl comments—when the fall in the well is settled, what is there to worry?

Laughing someone said—oh! Will you throw us in your well; will you give us water to drink or will you kill us thirsty only?

Someone would say expecting money from a miser; you are mad, absolute mad. Then again there was a fit of laughter, many meanings and bad meanings would be fished out of the well. As it was, some would give one meaning of thirsty and other would bring out some other meaning. There was only one motive of everybody i.e. laughing and making others laugh.

Vjaya sighed warmly and with a deep felt pain said in a faltering voice—how everything passed away? Why it happened, her eyes were filled with tears, they wanted to rain with thunder but darkness was their destiny; and silences its result. Like a child who lost his consciousness while seeing a film and wanted to relive the same scene again and again and didn’t want to set his foot in the present, almost similar was the condition of Vijaya.

Vijaya turned her side in the bed and her tear soaked pillow appeared pleasant to her. Though she has been crying like this for last eight to ten months, her misery was so much that her bosom never seemed to be empty. Though her eyes had been raining for months but she had no solace in it. She would think from where so much water had collected in her that it never finishes. The thirsty earth gets four months and becomes all green—completely satisfied, but what about Vijaya?

For the first time in her life she felt that the home, for which she had been pining in the hostel throughout the year the, same home was standing open mouthed to eat her up like a python. She is so helpless that in spite of her strong desire she cannot save herself. Only death can be her liberator. This house has become her destiny, now where and why should she go? She cannot do anything else except being totally consumed by this house. One day she would be in the mouth of a python quietly without a cry or a groan.

O God! Is there nobody for me in this over populated world? Is there nobody who would desire my love? Her eyes started raining again. The thread of contemplation and worry kept on increasing continuously which was constantly coiling around her body, soul, heart and her very being. Now I cannot go to the blind school, as they taught there up to BA only. I won’t ever be able to go to Delhi. To think of meeting any of my friends was a distant dream.

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God was not willing to give rains, and the rain of her eyes was not willing to stop. She would remember each of them one by one. She thought of writing letter but immediately the heart would retaliate, you have been doing this for last eight to ten months. Except for Vimla nobody even replied. Vijaya remembered that Vimla wrote to her that she was undergoing a training of shorthand, meaning stenography. A spark rose in her mind, couldn’t I do the same? The idea turned her existence making it pliable like a flourishing branch which was cracking and breaking like straw. She got up; at that very time she heard her aunt’s voice from downstairs. The aunt’s voice again threw her back in the abyss of frustration. She again remembered all the talk of her mother and aunt in the afternoon. The aunts was saying— marry Vijaya to some needy person, she will have her own home. Her life would be spent with the support of someone. Did I study only for this purpose of being given to anybody as a thing? Pain and frustration again turned in her chest. Nobody is going to look for me an educated boy, nobody will even bother to know if he has a house or not, it is enough to know that he needs Vijaya. Again the Ganga Yamuna of her eyes started flowing. When a groom was being searched for Jaya Didi Babuji had put maximum efforts, so many proposals were rejected because there were plenty of responsibilities in his house. But Vijaya is a surplus, worthless, lifeless and useless thing why anybody should bother about her. Oh! this blindness, what a great curse of life, I am just a stone statue. Nobody would know that there is a pulsating heart in it. Then who will care for my desired and undesired things, likes and dislikes? I am more beautiful than Jaya Didi, more educated too, still why my plight is so miserable? She could not even pass twelfth class, had dark complexion but because of her eyes everybody is bothered about her, she the apple of everybody’s eyes, she has all the respect and prestige. What is there in Vijaya? Now her crying turned into bitter sobs, how much pain was being nursed in her heart

nobody would know. Since I am blind I stop even being a human being, what to say about relations. She kept on sobbing, after crying sometimes her heart became calm, and then new ideas and new sensations sprouted. I cannot see whose stars of fortune are shining in the sky. It is said that there is a star for everybody’s destiny. Definitely there must be some star for my destiny too, not as big as moon, may be a smaller one, not so special like Venus. Let it be an ordinary one, but where is it? I cannot even look for it. If you are blind don’t you have even a star of fortune?

Like a normal girl her heart also had imaginations. Like Sophia of Rangbhumi she also wanted to offer herself to somebody’s good qualities, because of her miserable state she had become more humble but her Vinay was not to be found anywhere. Her colorful imaginations, her soft desires, sweet dreams hopes covered with sweet fragrance everything was made for the gift of darkness. Vjaya thought why God had given her this life? What would have been done or undone without me in this world? There are burning coals instead of stars in my destiny. O God! You could have made me a bird, if that was not possible then you could have made me an insect or a fly but at least not a blind person. Blindness snatches away the right of being a human. A world in which everybody’s desires are satisfied, why the same world becomes hard and so cruel towards a blind person? The soft flowery relations turn into hard stone, whether your own people or outsiders, eveyrbody’s attitudes and manners become the same. Is it that blinds have no one of their own? Vijaya burst into tears and started sobbing bitterly in her pillow.

It was the first time in her life she was thinking about such things. Her stay at home for last eight to ten months had made her wiser about the practical ways of the world. For the first time the cruel questions about life and world rose in her mind like thorns. Colliding with these her consciousness kept on becoming blood-stained and a realization

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dawned on her that she was all alone in this world. Perhaps the world is involved with sham regards to appease others, it doesn’t see at all, so for her the world is useless and she is useless for the world. It was hours that she was lying on the terrace. She knew that downstairs mother father and aunt were having a conference. Tomorrow Jaya Didi will come, she will also express her sorrow for me and go away. If tomorrow Didi talks like aunt I will also tell—you are also barren so do you stop being a human because of your barrenness? Often her in-laws raise the question of our brother-in-law’s remarriage; still Babuji keeps putting pressure on them. Mother was telling that now a Mumbai doctor has given clear report that Jaya Didi can’t become a mother, was her importance reduced because of this deficiency? If didi speaks ridiculously like the aunt I will also not leave her. The moment Vijaya thought in these lines she felt bad and she started condemning herself, how could she think about her sister so cruelly? Oh God! Why is it that whatever one wants never gets it, why He doesn’t know what one wants?

Now Vijaya started condemning herself for her desires and suppositions; why Vijaya you are worthy of what? What is your status? There and then another thought struck her mind and again she took refuge in God. O God! Do get me a small job; I will spend all my life with that little support. While thinking about such things she slept off. She woke up in the morning when her mother came to wake her up—how much you are going to sleep Vijaya, get up; we have to finish all work. Today your didi and Vikram are coming. At that very time the aunt proudly said—our Vikram is one amongst crores, diamond a real diamond. Jaya is very lucky to get a boy like Vikram. After rolling the bedding Vijaya said—I am going to clean the house: you look after food and drinks. The aunt tried to shower artificial affection and said—come Rani, I will do dusting and you clean with broom. I will wash the courtyard and you mop it. Vijaya

helped to finish the work quickly and went to take bath, started washing all the clothes lying there. Although mother was standing outside and said for the sake of saying not to wash them but Vijaya would not listen to her. When she finished her breakfast the mother took her to her room and told—beti your Babuji has got this suit and gold bracelets for you, wear them. First Vijaya was terrified then uncomfortable as if something has struck her heart. There was amazement and a suspicion of indecision also, as various doubts seized her heart. For last eight to ten months, since she had come back Babuji had considered her like a heavy stone on his chest. He would never ask her about her wellbeing or even talk to her then why this is from his side now? Whenever any close friend or relative enquired about Vijaya he would say—we thought her school people would get her some sort of job which would help her to spend her life comfortably. We never knew that we would have to bear the heavy burden of this young girl. These words of her father used to hit her like arrows, though openly she would never say anything but would cry her heart out when alone. What is so special today that she is being presented with a silk suit and gold bracelets? Like fever anger rose in her brain, since anger is the first weapon of a weak man that comes forward. She held her mother’s hand and said in a high tone—(she knew that Babuji was sitting outside, so that he can also hear) mother give this silk suit and bracelet to your favorite daughter she is coming today, isn’t? This blind soul doesn’t need all this. I will go to Delhi again and get more training. Just give me money for railways’ fare that will be my gift. And yes, after that you people won’t have to see my face ever in life, whether I live or die I will reside in Delhi only. Even if I have to do anything small or big I will not return to you people ever. Ask Babuji if he has any objection in giving me the fare. The mother embraced her tightly to her bosom and started crying—death to your enemies, why do you speak such words Beti. Your Babuji worries

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a lot about you, day and night he frets about you. What can we do, you have such a destiny? Vijaya forcefully removed her mother from her and stood up saying—whatever my destiny is it is mine, why should you suffer because of me? Do me a favour take me and leave me in Delhi.

It seemed Pt. Dinanath had got some other plans for her; he thought well if we could do anything that would be good otherwise there was another way that she should be left in Delhi. Once again we will see whatever God wills; today at least she has two ways in front of her. If Vikram agrees it is very good, at least Jaya’s family life will be saved; if he doesn’t (with a deep sigh) we will leave her in Delhi itself. Thinking this, he felt great consolation as if a great burden from his chest has been removed all of a sudden.

Vijaya again said – mother I am going to the terrace to put the clothes on the line, give me answer after asking Babuji. I want to go to Delhi tomorrow, I need only bus fare and excitedly she started ascending the stairs. Mother started crying. That uneducated helpless woman did not know what was right and what was wrong? But she had a desire in her soul that both her daughters should be happy, the elder one’s home and husband are saved and the younger one lives with them only. Thinking about such plans Vikram had been invited today. Just then the doorbell rang,Vijaya knew that Jaya was coming today. She was coming down the stairs and the door was next to stairs. Quickly, she came down and opened the door and asked—who? Vikram was standing in front of her, looking at Vijaya he was stunned, who is this beautiful girl? Vijaya felt that some naughty child had rung the bell and ran away, she again asked—who? It seemed as if Vikram’s tongue got stuck to his palate. He was continually looking at her, all the activities of his body seem to have been contained in his eyes; he started understanding a bit that she must be Vijaya. Before he could collect himself Pt. Dinanath came out of veranda

and saw that his son- in-law was standing wonder struck at the threshold and Vijaya was holding the door almost ready to close. Panditji said—Arey, Vikram is there Vijaya! Open the door. Vijaya was simultaneously filled with shame and humiliation for this unexpected behavior. She went straight tp her room. She understood that Jaya didi has not come. This question agitated her whole inner being, why Jijaji didn’t speak out? The mother was still crying, aunt was saying-- leave this entire crying and complaining look, Vikram has come. Mother reacted as if she got an electric shock, stood up immediately, wiped her eyes with the end of her saree and walked towards the drawing room. Uneducated people have a natural simplicity; they cry easily and become normal with equal ease. Mother again came back to Vijaya in the courtyard. Putting her hand on her head she spoke—come to the drawing room with tea and snacks, look Vikram has come so bring some sweets too. In spite of her negative desire she went towards the kitchen, and putting water for tea on gas she started arranging snacks on the tray.

This side Vikram was still thinking about Vijaya, he had seen Vijaya after seven years. Her beauty was engulfing her heart, such attractive, healthy, flourishing taut body! Whosoever saw her would have become mad. Though, the elder sister of this very girl was his wife still Vikram’s heart cannot find any similarity between the two. Vikram understood fully well that Panditji had called him only because of his mother’s threat. After the check-up by the Mumbai doctor his mother wrote in clear words to Panditji that she would get her son married for the second time. Now you can’t blame us for this. After giving us a piece of barren land you are misunderstanding that you have pawned our freedom. Now it won’t do. The deficiency is in your daughter. You don’t care about our family line but if we also don’t care how the things will go? Seven years are enough to make a barren woman sit on our heads.

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Here, Vikram was also making up his mind towards second marriage. He thought if his parents put too much pressure on him he would marry for the second time. But, his heart didn’t want to do any injustice to Jaya. His parents lived in a village in Madhya Pradesh. He thought that he would leave Jaya in their service. He tried to get Jaya agree to it, but she wasn’t prepared for it in anyway. Jaya would say with conviction—neither will I go to my parents nor to your parents. If you bother me much I will hang myself here only. Because of Government’s job Vikram also feared in his heart. Jaya knew that legally he can’t marry again. If because of her being barren he took legal help, perhaps law will also advise him to adopt a child. She would also tell Vikram that if the deficiency was in him even then they would have taken the help of adoption, then why not now? For adoption neither his soul nor his parents would have accepted. Jaya was also afraid in her heart lest Vikram might leave her. The fact was that she couldn’t do anything in the matter. The person who has deficiency might courageously fight in his/her life with strong will power but an untold fear keeps engulfing his/her inside.

Vikram was thinking all these things and his father and mother-in-law were sitting quietly when Vijaya came inside with tea. She kept the tea and snacks on the table by guessing; and started going back. Today, don’t know why to Vikram she appeared to be his savior. As if he was drowning, the tide in the ocean of relations was very strong and he wanted to reach the coast at any cost. He considered his dependence on Vjaya quite reasonable. Vikram talked to Vijayafor the first time. Wait Vijaya! Come and sit. Vijaya asked directly—why Didi hasn’t come. Vikram spoke impatiently—arey, won’t you even talk to me? Come to Delhi I will make you meet your Didi. The word Delhi influenced her most, she sat down and asked—since when you people are in Delhi?

Vikram—for last six or eight months I am in Delhi. Vijaya spontaneously said—I have also to go to Delhi for training. What training will you do? It was his straight question. Vijaya told that there are many training centers, let us see in which I get admission? Vikram was staring at Vijaya continuously. He couldn’t believe that this is the same girl whom he had seen seven years ago. That little, thin, taciturn girl would keep on sitting quietly for hours like a lifeless thing wherever anybody made her sit. During all the ceremonies and functions of marriage whenever his eyes turned to this girl he saw her sitting on a cane chair in corner of veranda. Returning to the present he said—looking at you I felt very good Vijaya. Vijaya wanted to say ask my parents how they feel looking at me day and night. But openly she didn’t say anything, putting aside all bitterness she asked –will you go back to Delhi today or tomorrow? If you stop me I will never go back, Vikram said laughing, Vijaya also laughed. The quiet wings of her laughter flapped and went inside vikram. Dinanath who was used to keeping circumstances under his control now got down—Vijaya beti now go and help aunty to prepare food. Vijaya got upand started going. Vikram was not prepared to face as much bitterness in relationships as he was not ready to face straight attack. He took support of Vijaya. Deliberately he stopped her and said—Ok. Vijaya first tell me what can you cook in food? Whatever you like to have we will make that only—vijaya said in order to avoid further conversation. Vikram replied in a simple tone—whatever you want to feed we will eat. Ok. Then today we will serve you such food that you will forget the taste of Didi’s food, saying this she went out. Vikram was still looking at her how she was crossing the courtyard only by guessing; how with small habituated steps she was proceeding towards the kitchen. He was thinking where her blindness was obstructing her life’s activities? Only there is no incongruous hate in life, whatever is there it is controlled and restrained, habituated and well defined. How tasty

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was the tea which she made, cup were arranged in a very systematic manner amidst snacks. Not a drop of tea spilled in the tray. He was amazed by everything of Vijaya. His heart was filled with a newness and wonder. At that very time the aunt came to the door for starting conversation—Bhai sahib! Now you can talk to Vikram, I will go to the kitchen to help Vijaya. Dinanath who was immersed in his thoughts and plans was startled. He sat carefully and stared at his son-in-law and said—Beta hope your work is going on well? Yes-- expelling a sigh Vikram said briefly.

At that very time Panditji held the thread of story, unraveling the knot of the story he said—Kaushalyaji’s letter came. Vikram only said—yes. She must have written that with your permission? This time he asked a slightly difficult question. Vikramwas in a fix, what to say? Ultimately, he took refuge in the safest weapon—silence. I know your heart doesn’t have any evil thoughts. It is no sin to expand once’ family that is why your mother’s worry is natural. Actually we were also thinking on her lines only. It appeared as if Panditji had given a hand to the falling Vikram. With this unexpected support a consciousness coursed through Vikram, he lifted his head and found that panditji was saying all this with extreme humbleness, and then he looked at his mother-in-law who was sitting in silent pose of agreement. Vikram sat up attentively for further conversation. He felt that his father and mother-in-law are going to do something good for him because they didn’t feel bad about the threatening letter of his mother. So there is nothing to worry. Dinanath said in a miserable voice—look here son, I am very much worried about Vijaya, she is young and slightly educated also but….Vikram was stunned, looking at both of them said—but what? She has not only grown older but more wise also, after training she will definitely get some job. You are worrying for nothing. Panditji took out another arrow to pierce Vikram, and aiming at the right place he spoke—the worry about Vijaya this

side and Jaya that side is eating into me day and night. I don’t know what to do. If you marry again what will happen to Jaya: thinking all this my heart comes to my mouth. Vikram said in a controlled voice—Babuji Jaya can stay with my parents in the village; I will be also going there some times or the other. Panditji said—this arrangement is ok for some time only but you cannot make it a permanent solution for life. A girl who had never been away from her husband even for a day after her marriage, how could she live away from you throughout her life? Suppose she agrees to live like this, tell me what is the meaning of this living? Now Vikram was ready for the straight talk. He said in a restrained voice—Babuji, everybody has to make compromises in life. Sitting stiffly Panditji spoke—if I show you a way out don’t feel bad, we consider you as our son, so we will say things in your interest only. Breaking silence the mother-in-law said—Beta if you don’t like our suggestion right now don’t take it to your heart. Vikram bent his head spontaneously. Panditji took up the bow again and said—if you want we can arrange your marriage with Vijaya, thus our Jaya’s home will be saved and Vijaya will also have support in her life. Vikram couldn’t believe his ears, stunned he kept on listening. The mother-in-law said –look son we are not thrusting her on you if she…Panditji interrupted—sit quietly. Then turned to Vikram—this is the only way in which nobody is harmed, otherwise…Vikram interrupted and said—will Vijaya accept this? Panditji said in an overbearing way—don’t see any reason for not accepting this, I don’t see any reason for not accepting this, and if you yourself put this proposal to her definitely she will not be able to refuse. Vikram said in a suspicious tone—I feel she won’t accept, she is quite intelligent, done her BA, she is no longer a child. Panditji got irritated and spoke in the same irritable tone—be it anything but she is blind too. Startled Vikram continued staring at him. After a few moments he realized that perhaps he should say something. Also he started feeling that Panditji

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was telling the right thing, I will get thousands of girls but Vijaya won’t get any. Perhaps she won’t get anybody who will hold her hand, everybody will turn back the moment he sees her blindness. He said in a very low voice—Ok. I will talk to her.

After food Vikram and Vijaya were left alone in the drawing room. Vikram started talking—so Vijaya will you come to Delhi? Yes—Vijaya gave a very brief answer. Vikram said laughing—suppose I flick you away with me for good, then? Vijaya simply laughed and said laughingly—you are forgetting something, true nobody cares for me but still there is a great demand for you. Didi will not leave you just like that. She was saying all this in a very normal way but Vikram was getting impatient and uncomfortable, he said directly—but Vijaya I have made up my mind this way only. Meaning?--Vijaya asked suspiciously. Now I will stay with you only. Today looking at you…vijaya stopped him in-between and said –what after seeing me? Pitied me? Compassion rose in you, felt worthiness or shame on you? Or, did you feel humiliated that your wife’s sister is blind—all this you knew at the time of marriage also, Vijaya was a bit exited and Vikram’s passion subsided a little. He said in a loose voice—what are you saying Vijaya! I was about to say something else.

Vijaya—whatever you wanted to say I have already said and then she tried to laugh. Stopping her there and then Vikram said—listen Vijaya I wanted to say that I felt very good looking at you. Vijaya again laughed the same pure laughter…

Arey Bhai, Jijashree you should not have felt bad looking at me. After all I have given you a warm reception again, and she started laughing.

Vikram asked a simple question—how did you feel meeting me Vijaya?

Vijaya—it is obvious, I will say felt good and again she laughed. Like an arrow of ‘neemkash’ this laughter penetrated deep in his heart.

My heart has become your disciple, if you want give me shelter and if not reject it. After making this straight statement he put his hands on her’s. Vijaya was not prepared for this unexpected situation. All of a sudden she stood up; Vikram held both her hands and made her sit down forcefully. I am telling you the truth Vijaya, your parents also want that I marry you. I am telling you in clear words the straight truth, I accept their proposal. What do you think; I will wait for your answer.

Now Vijaya didn’t take long to understand the whole situation. Her throat choked, wanted to burst into tears. Stopping her sobs she said in a broken voice—the propriety of asking a person of her wish who is already condemned to be hanged, is beyond my understanding. In spite of her strong will Ganga-Yamuna flowed out of her eyes. Vikram moved closer to her and said in a voice full of affection—no Vijaya! You are misunderstanding me.

Exited Vijaya said—now I have understood what is right what is wrong. Because of my blindness anybody can treat me whatever way he wants and there won’t be anything wrong in that. If you have eyes every wrong action of your’s becomes right action.

Vikram moved a bit more close to her and said—Vijaya! I take an oath and say that I am accepting you with all my heart and not because of any pressure. I also want to make it clear that I don’t want to accept you as the other woman but I am thinking of you as my heart throb, I am begging you of your hand.

Vijaya was continuously crying, sobbing she spoke—please don’t think that I have no alternative except marriage. Paths are always there only we don’t see them. I have many other alternatives to live for besides marriage. Just now I do not consider marriage the right thing for me, and with you it is absolutely not right. I cannot tolerate that my parents give me to you like a thing and you accept

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me because you are bound by your needs—saying this she started crying loudly. The mother and aunt were listening everything standing close to the door, they came inside.

The aunt said--why are you crying Vijaya on your good luck? You should be happy that… the aunt could say only that much and Vijaya rushed outside, went straight to the terrace. When alone, she started crying and cursing her bad luck.

This side Vikram said—I agree to it but you get Vijaya ready to accept. After getting Vikram’s consent all the three older members of the family were overjoyed. Once Vikram thought of going to the terrace and persuade her by embracing her and making her believe in him. But don’t know why he couldn’t gather courage to do so. Sex, if it can make a person powerful then again sex can destroy him also. It depends on human behavior whether he gives place to restrained sex in his life or let the unrestrained behavior destroy his life. Vikram was a restrained person that was why suppressing his feelings he kept quiet. After some time he looked at his watch and took leave. He went back with a vague hope.

Vijaya was crying bitterly on the terrace. Not one or two hours but was not aware how much time she spent there. Neither anybody came up to talk to her nor did she go down. In misery, if we have too much of anguish we become more thoughtful and as a result one understands life better in pain. Misery makes us realize the depth and importance of those things which never attract our attention when we live a normal happy life. In this regard misery expands humanity.

God what should I do, now nobody would help me to reach Delhi, money I don’t have and eyes you didn’t give. On what strength can I oppose them? If everybody has decided it will be done that way only. While crying this way she remembered Jaya, how will Didi accept this? She should not accept

this, but Vijaya don’t forget that Jaya Didi will have to think if another woman comes Vikram will totally become hers. Who cares about a blind person, then she is her sister and thirdly she is not self- sufficient. A blind person can be controlled easily so that Vikram will remain hers only. Is the world full of hypocrites and cunning human beings only? God! Have you entrusted my future in the hands of such crafty people? No, Vijaya no, you will have to oppose them. What is my capability; on what strength do I oppose them? But I can die, all of a sudden this idea flashed in her mind, yes, yes, this is the right thing, tomorrow I will hang myself. She could not make her plan of hanging complete before she heard many foot-steps coming up. Everybody was coming up and she was lying on the cot. She acted as if she was asleep and lay down straight in the bed. The mother came very close to her and fondled her head and said in an agitated voice—she has slept off my child, look her whole pillow is wet, don’t know how much she cried before sleeping. The aunt who was putting the other cot said—what is there if she has slept after crying, from tomorrow her life will be mended. If for the sake of life long happiness one cries a bit it is a good bargain. Panditji sat on the cot and said—I am her father and not her enemy, Vikram is a diamond of a boy he will take care of her throughout her life. Don’t you see how he keeps Jaya in spite of her failings? He has not married again in spite of the pressure of his family and relations. How much he respects us. He is a respectable, healthy handsome, engineer still he agrees for Vijaya. What other great thing can happen to us? Nobody accepts a blind person; it is his large heartedness that he said yes. The aunt supporting him said—Bhai sahib is saying the right thing but our Vijaya is also very talented, beautiful and educated too. If we have the need than he also has some need for her. Didn’t you see how he was looking at her with hungry eyes? It appeared as if he would take her with him today itself.

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My daughter is very talented only god has put moss on the gold; otherwise it was difficult to find such a girl—mother expressed her inner most feelings. The aunt said laughing—now get ready and marry her immediately. Vijaya is still a child; gradually she will understand that daughters have to accept. Not only they have to think about their welfare but others welfare also; and this is for her welfare only. It seemed as if Babuji has become weightless and in a very calm voice he said—we will have to prepare everything by tomorrow itself, day after tomorrow marriage will take place. Mausi—you don’t worry about that. The mother said in a worried voice—there may be some complications; my Vijaya is very obstinate. Babuji said carelessly—no such thing will happen; only you keep quiet. Vijaya was listening to everything. Listening to the bitter realities of life she didn’t know when she fell asleep.

On the other hand Vikram made Jaya understand that if he marries Vijaya it will good for both of them and for both the families. Jaya also felt that God had saved her from drowning. Sometimes a straw comes for support and a person’s life is saved. Jaya was feeling this way. After two days Jaya and Vikram reached there; seeing them Pandit Dinanath became very happy. Five people like ’Panch Parmeshwar’ decided Vijaya destiny—marriage and future. In all the five hearts the desire for the welfare of Vikram was seated firmly; but nobody thought of Vijaya’s well-being as if she was such a helpless thing whom everybody wanted to use according to his convienience. It was decided in this conference that right now Vikram’s parents should not be told about it. Later on Vikram will handle them himself. Vikram had brought a wedding dress and a mangalsutra for the bride. Here, Pandiji got for Vijaya five saris and five suits prepared. Vijaya was miserable in her heart. For once, nobody was talking to her; and she also didn’t want to talk to anybody. When she found her mother alone she said—mother has it been

decided that I have to live with Vikram ultimately? The mother started crying, she wanted to embrace her but to Vijaya her mother’s behavior also appeared fake. She forced her mother to be away from her and said—I want to talk to Vikram alone for five minutes before the marriage. Is it possible? Sobbing the mother said—this definitely can be done.Mother called Vikram to the terrace. Vikram came up; Vijaya was sitting on the cot in very ordinary clothes. Hearing the noise she knew that Vikram had come. He came and stood near her. Vijaya said in a wilted voice—I know what is there in your heart Vikram, and there is no place for me in your life. Putting his hand on her mouth and embracing her Vikram said—never say this ever again, if you don’t want to marry me don’t do, but don’t say such words for me. You are the only one in my heart… only one. Vijaya stepped back a little and said—wish it was true, then my positionwould have been different. Vikram again came near her and said—it is true don’t doubt my love.

Vijaya said crying—don’t talk of doubts, now I am having doubt about myself. I am asking you only one question you answer it honestly. Suppose I am also proved tobe barren like Jaya Didi, then? Vikram was stunned the hands embracing her became loose. His eyes filled with tears by imagining a probable pain; all of a sudden it did not occur to him what to say. He was not a man of cruel nature; temperamentally he was soft and humble. The bitter truths of life have not killed his emotions yet. After a few moments he said—if it happens still I will accommodate you Vijaya. In that situation I will accept my destiny. With this Vijaya got a bit of relief and said in a very low voice again—then try to accommodate Jaya Didi, take her as your destiny. Vikram said –I am not leaving her. Vijaya quickly said—then why you are marrying me? Vikram sat next to her and said—I am marrying you so that Jaya’s right remains intact. Vijaya knew this truth beforehand. She said in a disappointed tone—this is what I wanted to

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hear from your mouth. Now I understand the truth that what to say of your heart even in your home I don’t have a place. Vikram realized his mistake. He was repenting in his heart. Vijaya stepped back a little and said—Vikram today this game is possible through this blind person but if tomorrow…Vikram again put his hand on her mouth and took her in his arms forcefully, caressing her said—I will be yours tomorrow also, at least once rely on me Vijaya! All the relationships are made in heaven. Try to respect them. You were destined to meet me like this only. This is God’s disposition otherwise how possibly it would have happened so suddenly?

His talks didn’t influence Vijaya in anyway. She has understood the reality. What is there in mind, it only creates all delusions for its cunning designs. God and God’s dispositions are creations of its own delusions only.

Vijaya said in a pungent tone—yes Vikram! There is neither turmeric nor hyena, nor colour nor affection only a need. Where is your fault? The whole social system goes by the need. Vikram said enthusiastically---I will fill all the colours in your life Vijaya, believe me. One day I will become your love; this is my firm belief, saying this he pulled her to himself tightly. Vijaya knew that black colour is so much filled in her life that no other colour can be filed in it. The marriage took place. Vijaya didn’t say even a single word to her elder sister. Perhaps in her heart she had great anger against her, not anger it was hatred. How because of her selfishness she never thought about herself, her husband and her younger sister. When selfishness enters in relationships distances increase themselves. The distance between Jaya and Vijaya was not because of their not meeting for last seven years, but because of this recent relationship both of them have been turned into two banks of a river which are continuously together but distant from each other. Today in Vijaya’s heart there was no good-will for Jaya. Jaya also could not talk to her in spite of her wanting to do so. In the hustle bustle

of marriage the sisters didn’t have time to remove the distance and come nearer.

Vijaya accepted Vikram with God’s blessings as if she didn’t know him before hand, and that he had no relation with Vijaya. At time of sendoff the mother and mausi cried a lot but everyone had one thing to say—Vikram is not a human being but a God, not ordinary but priceless diamond. He will give vijaya great happiness in her new life. God! Fill vijaya’s home with children. In the desert of her life let a garden of flowers bloom also. In that garden there must be something for Vijaya also, nobody ever cared about her. This garden was also to fill the emptiness of Jaya’s life with happiness.

This was such a relationin which there was no fragrance of meeting of hearts. But her life was the outcome of the human brain’s strategic moves filled with sordid smell of solid needs. In such relationships Man becomes like a thing to be used for a purpose. This relationship is as practical as the role s of receiver and debtor, shopkeeper and customer in society.

Vikram forced Jaya to stay at her parent’s house. Though Jaya tried hundreds of womanly traits by crying continuously, giving thousands of excuses finally banged her head and prayed and touched Vikram’s feet but didn’t know why Vikram didn’t listen to her. What had happened to him even Jaya couldn’t understand. He said firmly to Jaya—look you come after ten fifteen days with me when I will bring Vijaya for pagphera, I will take you along with me. Looking at the delicacy of the situation panditji told his darling daughter—do as Vikram feels right, it is a matter of few days only. The mother and mausi said the same thing though in different words to Jaya. Jaya was helpless and constrained. She felt as if her home was slipping and a strong earthquake struck in the building of her relationship; with stormy rain the flood water is drowning everything and taking it away. She had thought that because of this blind girl her house will remain intact. Her husband will always be hers only. But what is this?

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Jaya felt that somebody had pilfered the gem from her bag and she was roaming about aimlessly with empty bag but nobody was listening to her. The mother put her hand on Jaya’s shoulder and said—Beti let Vikram spend some time alone with Vijaya, this is all for your benefit. Ultimately what could Jaya do? Crying and howling she stayed in her maternal home, but her heart was full of doubts and misgivings. This mental restlessness would not allow her to live in peace. Who would have understood her misery? Ultimately she bent down in silent prayer before God like a harmless innocent cow and prayed for her being. Pandit Dinanath called her to him and said—don’t be so unhappy, all these manipulations have been done for your wellbeing only. If it didn’t happen this way his parents would have fixed his marriage with somebody else and you would have lost your husband and home for good. So far everything is going in the right direction. Vijaya is your younger sister and then blind too, she wouldn’t go far away from your shadow.

This side Vikram brought Vijaya home and made her understand the geography of his home. It was a small Govt. house of two rooms, one drawing room, kitchen, bathroom, a small courtyard and a very small backyard in the back. Gradually Vijaya understood the house very well. Vikram gave his love to her withall the depths of his heart. He sent an application for leave of fifteen days. In this fortnight he took her to Mussorie. There he had booked a room in a hotel at the Mall road. Every day morning and evening he would take Vijaya for a stroll. Sometimes he would make her sit on a high rock at others in the shadow of a mountain and make love. He didn’t leave Vijaya even for a second alone. These efforts of Vikram filled Vijaya’s wounds. Vikram wanted that Vijaya should not even think that she has come as the other woman. In fifteen days he tried to give Vijaya all the joys of life. He got her hands painted with hyena along with his name on it. He would tell

her with great interest—look Sweety! The color of your hyena is very dark. Do you know the meaning of that? Vijaya also tried to laugh in reply, but her heart was always immersed in the unpleasant possibilities of future. She would think that what would happen when Jaya Didi comes? Such questions were making her restive. How and when the fifteen days passed they didn’t remember. Now they had returned home,Vikram while seeing TV had informed her—Sweety tomorrow we will go to your mother’s home. Vijaya said in a flat voice—you go alone, I have come here after bidding a final farewell to everyone. Vikram tried to make her understand—we live in a society we have to keep the dignity of relationship and it is our duty to make them sweet under all situations. Otherwise also Vijaya was slightly indisposed, her mind was suffering from weariness. Vikram compromised, ok we will see after a week. This way some more days passed. Vijaya started taking care of all household chores. Vikram was following her like a shadow. Getting up in the morning she would prepare food and breakfast. Vikram was helping her in all her works. In spite of Vijaya telling him not to follow her, he would not leave her alone. Vijaya felt when she did such good deeds that she got such a good husband. But the moment she remembered Jaya or her people her heart would fill with misery. She kept on thinking that it was a day dream the moment the day ended the reward of all the righteous deeds would also end. Again the same dark night will come which has no end. She felt as if she was going down in a dark pit from where it was not be possible to return. Her nervousness increased sometimes tears would roll down spontaneously.

One day Vikram insisted a lot—Today you will not do any household work. One thing you are not well, secondly you are getting sad day by day. Today we will eat outside and get you checked up by a doctor. After eating at a small restaurant they reached the doctor. Dr. Kamala after the checkup

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of Vijaya gave the good news to Vikram with a warning. She explained to Vikram—Your wife is pregnant; keep her in such an atmosphere where there is no tension. Hearing this news it appeared that Vikram got everything in life, felt as if he was flying and he held Vijaya tightly so that his hands might not slip her hand. When he reached home he thought of telling his parents first. He remembered that they didn’t even know that he had married for the second time. Vikram thought—I will explain everything to them in the solitude on telephone. First I should try to know the reason of Vijaya’s sadness. Today Vikram fed Vijaya with his own hands. Her eyes were filled with tears. Thinking that it was the right time Vikram asked - Sweety! Tell me your problem, why you have become so morose? Vijaya expressed all her fears. She said in a low voice - Vikram! I feel when you get children you will…and she became quiet, her throat choked. Caressing her Vikram said – Sweety! You cannot change the realities of the world by merely closing our eyes. It is always better to share than to lose completely, and Jaya has done only that. Whatever turns the life takes one truth remains constant, life continues in spite of everything. If you see yourself in Jaya place and Jaya in your place then you will rightly guess the truth. From the ocean of life each one of us fills his earthen pitcher. Some fill it fully, some keep it half and others like to keep it empty. Some people fill again and again and empty it in the ocean itself. Neither have they changed place nor their jobs. Only such people walk carefully with their filled pitcher and continue quenching their all-pervading thirst in life. Some drop the pitcher, other’s is thrown by stumbling and thus they remain thirsty throughout their life. We should always keep assessing our view points—what do we expect from our life’s pitcher, how do we work towards achieving those goals? Sweety are you understanding what I am saying? Vijaya answered briefly—yes. Vikram proceeded—alone we are nothing, whatever we are it is only in the society and Sweety, actually society decides what we are?

The criterion of our being and not being is society itself. The word society penetrated deep into the inexperienced heart of Vijaya. Now she started thinking about her relationship and her identity’s social dimensions. What is my social identity? Her heart came to her mouth, so far her relationship has not been socialized. Is there any meaning of my marriage? As she faced these questions her misery would increase.

Now after waiting for a month Jaya came to Delhi by herself. Vikram didn’t react in anyway, with great caution he started managing his relationship. First he called his parents and introduced Vijaya to them and told them the whole story. He also gave the good news that Vijaya was pregnant. His parents felt very bad about his behavior but in spite of that what could they have done? Ultimately they had to accept and they did accept.

Vijaya served her mother and father-in-law with great earnestness, Jaya tried to stop her many times, but she wouldn’t answer her back, neither would she agree with her in anyway. Actually silence was her only dialogue with Jaya. She would feed her parents-in-law by cooking food with her own hands. Getting up early in the morning she would touch their feet to seek blessings. After daily worship she would give them prashad, and would serve hot tea with her own hands. The mother and father-in-law felt that she was just the opposite of Jaya. Why Vijaya is like that? Can there is such a difference between the two sisters? They are poles apart from each other. In two or three days they started loving her truly. Gradually they realized that in spite of being blind Vijaya can do all the household chores and look after the hearth and home with great care. The father-in-law was retired inspector. His experienced eyes which were used to judge a person by battering, found Vijaya very good. Jaya started feeling irritated about it and tried to stop Vijaya doing all those chores which made her father and mother-in-law happy. But Vijaya never listened to her and both the

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parents accepted to stay there till the baby came.

Vijaya delivered two healthy beautiful kids with separate amiliacal cords. The father and mother-in-law were overjoyed for getting a grandson and a granddaughter. Vikram’s ecstasy was at its peak. Jaya was also happy that in away her aim has been achieved, but she didn’t like the way Vikram used to love and care for Vijaya. He would straight go to Vijaya as he returned home; this behavior of Vikram pinched her most. After performing the forty days’ sacred ritual for the newly borns, the father and mother-in-law left for their village with heavy hearts. Now Jaya and Vijaya were straight in front of each other. For the first time Vijaya felt that her Didi was trying to keep her away from her children on one excuse or the other. Vijaya had plenty of milk in her breasts. As God had blessed her with two children he had also blessed her with so much of milk. Many a times she had to throw the milk out with machine after feeding both the children. In spite of that vijaya saw thar Jaya often tried to give outside milk to children. Vijaya told Vikram in direct words—you tell Didi not to do this if, I say she will feel bad. But Vikky I cannot tolerate that somebody deprives my children of mother’s milk. Vikram explained to Jaya very endearingly—when she has enough milk why do you do such a thing that she feels hurt? Now Jaya understood that may be Vijaya didn’t oppose her but she would tell everything to Vikram. Here, Vijaya tried her best so that Jaya didn’t have to do any work of the children.

Certainly it was a difficult thing because of the two children but Vijaya did everything with patience. She would clean their stool and urine herself, message and bathe them, but would never say anything so that nobody knew that she was facing any difficulty in doing all the work.

Jaya had been living with her husband alone for last seven years. She had never taken the responsibility of family on her shoulders. She was used to getting up late in the morning, while Vijaya had spent her

whole life in struggles only. She would get up early in the morning and finish all the work of children. Vikram was wonder struck also since as and when he got up he would find Vijaya and children ready after taking bath. He liked it very much. He would call Vijaya and come near children. Vijaya would give him tea. Such happy beginnings of the day would remove all his tensions of life. He found that Vijaya would never wake her sister even by mistake. She would never take any help for children’s work. But yes, she would give her morning tea.

The time passed, it didn’t take long, and the children were now six months old. Jaya’s name was there in Vikram’s service book and other papers as his wife. When people saw Vijaya at his house Vikram told that she was Jaya’s younger sister and had come to look after the kids. People were surprised that in spite of being blind she was doing everything quickly and as a reaction they would say-How efficient, beautiful and agile this girl is, they would almost forget Jaya. There was continuous appreciation of Vijaya. If any child started crying in front of anybody instead of Jaya Vijaya would go immediately to the child. People would be all the more surprised by this behavior of Vijaya. Suspicion is the basic foundation of human life. Some people started doubting that-The children are of Vijaya and not of Jaya. Vikram’s boss came to congratulate him, when alone, the boss asked Vikram—Do tell me my friend who is this Vijaya? There is no space for a lie in this matter Vikram said spontaneously—She is Jaya’s younger sister, almost ten years younger to her. Right now she has finished her BA. Perplexed he asked—Then why she is staying with you. Vikram was a man of great patience, he said in a very low voice—Next year she has her turn for some training, we also need her till that time. My father and mother-in-law have sent her and Jaya had brought her here. The boss said laughing as if he had caught the flying bird—Ok friend your sister-in-law is a wonder in herself. Don’t you ever fall for

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her? Vikram felt very bad. But more for his need, and also restricted by society he had to tell lies to many people. But his behavior never showed any sign of of guilt or self-condemnation. Vijaya came to know that Vikram doesn’t accept her as his wife before others. This hurt her inner most feelings. Ultimately, she experienced the helplessness of her blindness. She would cry in solitude and tell her misery to her children crying bitterly. This way she could get some peace of mind.

One day Vikram had to go to Mumbai for some office work. It was very important for him to go there for a month. He tried his best that his going there could be stopped; but it couldn’t be done. Today Vikram was to go and Jaya had to go to the market for some necessary work. Vikram came near Vijaya and spoke—Sweety, today I am going for a month, take full care of yourself and children. Vijaya said in a morose tone—hun and kept quiet. Vikram lifted her face and asked –what do you mean by hun? My life is now your trust. Vijaya said sarcastically—Speak in low voice Vikky otherwise somebody will hear you and you will be defamed. Vikram laughed—What defame? Vijaya—If it was not like this, would you have given me the status of your wife in society? Vikram I have not eloped with you, you yourself have married me. Vikram felt a bit ashamed and collecting himself he said—You are not married to me, who said this to you? Vijaya said – What is my place in your heart I need not know from a third person. True I don’t have physical eyes still I can hear and understand the social behavior. Even if tangibly I am not with you I can guess what place you have given me in your professional society. Listen Vikky whenever you say something to Jaya Didi with your eyes or by signals I understand everything but I don’t react lest you become answerable to your so called society. Vikram realized his mistake to some extent. Collecting Vijaya to himself he said affectionately—Sweety I cannot say anything

because of my Government job, my heart knows that you understand my position. Except you I have nothing in my heart. Before you came my life was a desolate place full of silence, you have made the flowers bloom in my life. What to say of this life but in each life I want you to be my wife. How can I be ashamed of you? This is my helplessness. Now Vijaya started believing Vikram a bit. She had seen that making excuse of children mostly he slept in her room and always helped her with children and household work. Instead of waking Jaya he himself would come to help her. Definitely, he feels in his heart that Vijaya doesn’t like asking Jaya for any work. So let it be, ultimately Vikram won. Explaining Vijaya his helplessness and thus making her believe in him, he went away.

Today, it was his tenth day; whenever his telephone came Jaya would talk with him. Later on she would say—He was asking about you and children. Vijaya would keep quiet; she wouldn’t say anything good or bad to Jaya. She used to think that at least Jaya Didi should be obliged to me or she should have feeling of guilt that how she has brought her younger sister as his co-wife. But it never happened as Vijaya thought. Jaya was like a dry prosaic bank on which no cool emotional bespattering of Vijaya’s emotions ever reached. She was living without any sentimental pleasures of life; on the other hand Vijaya was continuously irrigating her dry bank with her emotional sentiments of love and surrender. Now Jaya was no longer her elder sister but a cruel woman sharing and seizing her home, husband and children forcefully. Snatching and grabbing had become her nature. She had everything because of having eyes, but because of the lack of her eyes-sight, in spite of having everything Vijaya had nothing. Vijaya was not prepared to accept Jaya’s pity, affection and sympathy; she wanted sisterly feelings which Jaya couldn’t give. The day Vijaya had come after her marriage till today Vijaya had always felt a distance

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in Jaya’s behavior. Not even for a moment did she feel that this woman is her well-wisher in any way.

It was thirteenth day that Vikram had gone, like every day Vijaya finished her morning chores and after giving milk to children she made them sleep. She went to the bathroom to take bath. A wire was lying on the floor. Vijaya felt that Jaya must have done something and forgot to remove it. She didn’t speak, nor asked Jaya about it. As she was collecting the wire her fingers touched the end and got a strong electric shock and she fell in the bathroom. Since the bathroom was wet even though she left the wire the current spread in the whole bathroom. Vijaya was tossing and rolling she couldn’t even cry out. Jaya was standing in the lobby and seeing all this but today she turned into a stone, she didn’t utter a single word. A Man becomes not only blind by selfishness but goes down in humanity also. Jaya’s deed can be considered a stigma of hatred on the woman’s race. When selfishness rides high it doesn’t see man or woman, which turns a person into machine. She kept on standing and seeing Vijaya tossing and rolling and going towards death, but that stone statue didn’t move. Neither her mouth uttered a sigh nor a groan. When she became sure that Vijaya has passed away she switched off the switch of veranda and went inside the bathroom to put an emersion rod in the bucket and collecting all the naked wires she threw them behind the house. After that she called the neighbors and started

howling to get their sympathy. The neighborhood ladies tried to take care of Jaya somehow and took Vikram’s telephone number and informed him. Vikram’s work was almost finished, otherwise also he would have returned in a day or two. But this unexpected sudden call made him apprehensive, he reached Delhi by air. In his heart there was this apprehension that all this was Jaya’s doing. But again the same selfishness stopped him from speaking. Thinking about his future, in spite of understanding everything he didn’t say a single word to anybody. Now he had two children, it was a question of their bringing up. Since he cannot marry again why should he lose Jaya? Jaya was his need for today and tomorrow. A deceitful person whether he knows or doesn’t know, he understands fully well his habits and his needs.

After Vijaya’s thirteenth day funeral rites both the families got together. Her mother and father-in-law actually took it as an accident. Her mother-in-law said – She had filled our home with joys. She was actually a Laxami. Her father-in-law felt it was all because of ill luck. Vijaya’s mother was saying—come on Jaya beti now calm down Vijaya has made your garden bloom, now take care of it. Pandit Dinanath said to Vikram—This is all the play of destiny Beta, your destiny has blessed you only this much of her association. Look what a precious gift she has given you before going. Now this gift is your life. Vikram started looking at his gifts.

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The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be

– Ralph Waldo Emerson

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We are in the 21st century, and yes, nothing has changed for the better in the last 10 years. We live in a country where being a blind woman can be most difficult, for not many wish to accept that blind women too wish to live a dignified life; just like anyone else!

Preeti Monga is founder and CEO of Silver Linings Foundation, CEO of Silver Linings Services and Director of Project Jyoti at Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital. , Through her various portfolioes, she works for people with disabilities, promotion of eye donation and empowerment of women; and runs her own business venture which provides executive search and corporate trainings. Despite being a visually impaired woman since age six, she has always stood her ground and has carved out her own path in the mainstream society and makes constent efforts to have herself as well as other disabled people live with complete Dignity! She is a celebrated motivation speaker, Life coach, an accomplished Corporate Trainer, a Trauma Counsellor, a Fitness Consultant, a PR Professional, a Disability Rights Activist, an Author, a successful Business Woman and a powerhouse of inspiration; who influences all with her dynamic and positive personality.

The burning desire to earn self-respect and freedom, led her to become an Aerobic instructor (the first blind person to have taken this on as a career)! That is how it all started.

Tons of Awards are enlisted in her name along with the National Award for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, 2013 which she received from the President of India.

Preeti’s story in her own words:

Born in 1959, in Amritsar in India, my parents discovered my visual disability when I was just 6

years old. That moment I was not totally blind but was living with rapidly fading eyesight. It must have been a difficult experience for my parents to bring up a disabled child like most of the cases in India. But they never really did change their behaviour towards me after knowing so, which really was one of the most important part of my upbringing.

When I was in class 2, constant complaints from teachers got my parents to have a meeting with them, which brought fourth my medical exam where my disability was discovered. Here began a very difficult time in my life, where social rejection, shame, sadness and fear haunted me throughout my childhood and youth!

Well, as I was very innocent and did not realize the seriousness of becoming blind, so whenever I was

taken to the eye doctor, the only concern I had was, that I shouldn’t be made to wear specs, as I didn’t want to look ugly on my wedding day!

At this time my father was posted at Agartala, capital of Tripura, where there was hardly any specialized medical and rehabilitation services available; so I continued in a regular school and with my teachers and parents helping me, I made it to class 5.

The next disaster hit when I was 13 years old, and was back in Delhi, going once again to a regular school; and then suddenly, I got thrown out of Loreto Convent School in class 8 just because I was a blind child. No other regular school wanted me after that and my parents tried to admit me into a school for blind girls, but this school was in a poor condition and they, did not send me there. And even today there are hardly any quality schools for blind girls!

It was real hard work after that, I had to learn everything on my own; from housework to

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whatever knowledge I could get my hands on with no technology or any other assistance available to me accept the radio and my home environment. All I had was the encouragement and love of my parents! For instance, my mother would close her own eyes and develop effective ways to teach me. Life was very painful and lonely, but I shared this with no one; I did not want to further hurt my parents, so I always hid my sadness and fear and trotted my bumpy life journey with fake enthusiasm, till it became my second nature!

However, next I was put to learning sitar with a dream of becoming a world class sitarist. And then, almost after 8 years of practicing for 8-9 hours every day, I was told by my guruji, that I did not have the gift of music, I was informed that I could never become a performing artist! I was completely shattered with this news, for I only wanted to pursue excellence, and if I could not do that in this music line, I gave it up completely!

Around this time I was getting into my twenties, and I started wondering and worrying about my future, what would become of me? How would I be able to spend my whole life? What must I do? I did not want to live alone, had to have a life partner. I was very fond of reading and listening and learning was my hobby, but there had to be more than just these few things for me to get through life with respect and dignity!

So I decided that I will get married and have a great home and children. And, from here on my life took another disastrous turn! For I soon found out that no one wanted to marry me because I was blind! I wasn’t ready to accept another failure, and I decided that this time I will find a husband, get married and live a good life! It proved to be more than difficult, but, I did not give up and went on to search for a good life partner by myself.

I ultimately did manage to find one, married him at 23; and after 2 hours of signing the marriage

register, I discovered that this was the biggest disaster of my life! I had married a compulsive lyre, an alcoholic and an abusive man.

The first 5 years of my marriage life were torturous, terrorized and abusive. In this time, I became a mother of 2 kids, and Even they became victims of their father’s bad temper and abusive ill treatment. I kept trying to make things work, but with no success; it just got worse! If I wanted to gift them a quality life, I knew I had to seriously do something about getting the children and myself out of the mess we were in. There was a time when I was thinking of killing my own 2 children and myself, to get out of our torturous existence; but thankfully I did not have the courage to do so!

And then I realized that I had to first become economically independent, and that meant finding employment. But how? I was left with a broken body, a shattered soul, no qualifications, no money and a huge disability! Rejected by all I was advised to carry on suffering till somehow my children grew up, who then would help me to live a better life! But I just had to do something to make our lives worth living, for that is what we all deserved! I had to start to earn money! At that time the only skills I possessed were being a good homemaker and a reasonably good typist, and I had a very basic knowledge of music and I was blind.

And then suddenly, after contemplating and pondering for more than over a year, the idea of becoming an aerobics instructor came while watching Aerobics classes on TV. I had to almost force Veena Merchant, the lady who brought Aerobics to India at that time, to train me as an instructor. As there was no blind aerobics instructor known then; Veena did not know how to train me, but with my persuasion and hard work, in 1988 I became the only and first blind Aerobics Instructor known!

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In April that year, I opened my own classes in two locations in South Delhi. My classes were a huge success; as loads of people came to exercise with me; the fact that I was blind and they were fine did not seem to matter! I enjoyed every bit of it, as I knew that this was the golden key to my freedom and joy!

Along with running my own Aerobics classes, I in addition began to volunteer with a school for blind children where I taught Aerobics and English and got into Counseling. To further supplement my income, I began to write for news papers and magazines, started selling pickles on the street, door to door and wherever I could sell them. My volunteering had, in the meantime got me a small job at the National Association for the Blind as a computer and English teacher, while I continued to teach aerobics to the blind children there. I also continued to teach my own Aerobics classes under the name of ‘Preeti’s Keep Fit Programme’, along with struggling with an abusive marriage and bringing up children! Within a few months, my record breaking sale of pickles won me the job of a Marketing and Sales Manager in the Pickles Company and soon huge media recognition and prestigious awards were being showered upon me! My confidence and self-esteem came rushing back and I thereafter filed for divorce, got rid of my abusive husband, was a single mother for some time, till I found Ashwani, the man of my dreams; to whom I have been blissfully married since 1996! I never wanted to live alone and neither wanted to become a Burdon upon my children and so I looked hard for this man of my dreams; though he was 10 years younger to me and was non disabled and a single person till I grabbed him, I asked him to marry me because I discovered that our values matched completely, and I was not wrong!

While working out of doors, I realized that the condition of disabled people was very sad in our society, and, along with all that I was doing, I became a Disability Activist, with a burning desire

to prove that disability need not really mean inability! I did awareness talks and programmes in schools, colleges, corporate and wherever I could manage to get in, getting the society to understand that disability need not mean inability!

This led to me being invited to various forums including to corporate as a Motivation Speaker and I soon landed up as a Life Coach and Corporate Leadership Trainer plus a Consultant!

On the other hand, I continued to teach, train and counsel people with disabilities and also non disabled women. And soon I realized that if I have to make a real difference in the world in the area of disability and gender, I needed to have a proper platform to do so; and in 2006 I gave my work in the social development area a shape of an NGO which I called ‘Silver Linings! As I was an ordinary person without much knowledge or connections, no funding came to me and I have been doing all the philanthropy out of our own pockets with a bit of help from a very few well meaning friends. But, to be able to impact lives of more people, I needed money, and that was what inspired me to create a self-sustainable model.

So, to be able to support the Silver Linings Foundation, and to earn for ourselves, I launched a company called Silver Linings Synergies Pvt. Ltd. Which was an executive search company and also a training outfit. Thus, I began my entrepreneurial journey in 2010. This was my second attempt at business; the first time I took a lone and put the same into the pickles company, and was never inducted into it! And the second time, after 5 years of starting up and thereafter running Silver Linings Synergies I had to resign from my own business due to clash of interest and values with my then business partner! And finally in 2014 I have once again set-up my company called Silver Linings Services which is once again picking up its executive search services along with Motivation as well as consulting and trainings for the ‘Prevention Of Sexual Harassment’ at work places act!

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My mantra is to never ever give up! I am determined to make a rocking success out of this company now! The mission of this company is to earn for ourselves, as well as bring in enough funds to continue and to expand our work in the area of disability and women via our NGO Silver Linings!

Below is detailed description of my work:

Silver Linings, a Not for profit organization, works towards providing quality and secure residential facility for blind females, promoting inclusive education for blind children, empowerment of blind girls and women, facilitating reduction of preventable blindness, inclusion of people with disability into mainstream, Gender and the citizen at large. Preeti Monga, herself blind since childhood, (Founder & CEO of Silver Linings), has been singlehandedly working towards improving lives; directly/indirectly impacting millions through her unremitting and arduous efforts for the last 3 decades now! Silver Linings was formally registered in June of 2006.

Our work encompasses:

Providing quality and secure hostel facility for blind girls/women, along with giving them relevant trainings so they can become productive and dignified citizens of the mainstream society.

Preparing and integrating visually impaired children into mainstream schools for providing them with inclusive education.

Facilitating and promoting Cornea Retrieval, to help drastically reduce numbers of, curable and preventable Corneal Blindness.

Employment of people with disabilities in the private/corporate sector.

Creating and promoting an inclusive society for people belonging to diverse groups, as well as for persons with disabilities.

Facilitating and nurturing Visually Impaired Females, to amalgamate and thereafter flourish in the mainstream!

Providing Trauma Counseling for newly disabled persons

Our PROJECTS:

Shiksha Hostel For Blind Girls:

A quality and secure hostel for visually impaired girls, as well as a comprehensive training center for their all round development.

Shiksha:

A preparatory school and resource center for blind children; that prepares, includes and supports their education in regular schools under the inclusive education system. Ensuring, for them, equal opportunity, quality education and mainstreaming, right from the start!

Jyoti:

A project to facilitate and promote, Cornea Retrieval, in partnership with Dr. Shroff’s Charity Eye Hospital Eye Bank. Project Jyoti assures that families at hospitals are offered the opportunity to donate corneas, and that when such a donation is offered, it is responded to with compassion, professionalism and timeliness.

DIGNITY:

A project of Silver Linings specifically targeted towards empowering and mainstreaming of Visually Impaired girls. Here we provide trainings in social and professional etiquette, personal development skills, sexual rights and employment opportunities.

FUSION:

An initiative of Silver Linings, works towards bridging the gap between the disabled and non disabled world! Fusion is a platform for meaningful face to face social interaction between both worlds! We foster Friendships, Relationships and partnerships, inspiring true inclusion across the board!

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INCLUSION:

We conduct sensitization and awareness building programmes to inspire inclusion of people with disabilities in all facets of society. We in addition prepare corporates to successfully hire and work with people with disabilities and provide suitable and capable disabled talent to them.

Trauma Counseling:

We counsel newly disabled people to get them to accept their disability without delay, so as to have them move towards required rehabilitation and into mainstream life! In addition we sensitize doctors and medical professionals to refer newly disabled patients to Silver Linings so we can reach our TC services to them in time!

SELF SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS:

EXECUTIVE SEARCH:

Silver Linings runs a regular recruitment service and has been offering executive search services to leading corporates and organizations since June 2010.

CORPORATE TRAININGS:

Silver Linings Motivates and inspires all, to live life to their maximum potential; via its unique and powerful Personal Development and Motivational programmes. We conduct trainings on topics like: Motivation, Maximizing Potential, Life Skills,

Gender Sensitization, Fitness, POSH, Inclusion and Diversity etc.

MAINTAINING AN ENVIRONMENT FREE OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT WORKPLACES:

Silver Linings is currently working as the required NGO partner, on various corporate and government organization’s Internal Complaints Committee, (ICC) instituted under the Vishaka Guidelines of the Sexual Harassment Act 2013; ensuring Sexual Harassment free, Workplaces for women.

CSR ADVISORY:

We facilitate hiring of capable disabled candidates for the private sector! In addition we offer ‘Demystifying’ workshops to assist smooth and productive merger post placement of disabled candidates in your office. We also, provide consultancy in areas like: career progression, reducing attrition of hired disabled candidates!

My mission is to inspire the world and especially women, and for that I have written my autobiography called The Other Senses, published by Roli Books!

Today I am an entrepreneur, a social worker, a motivation speaker, a life coach, a leadership trainer, a sexual harassment consultant, a counselor, a fitness expert, an author and a grandmother of 3 and a homemaker!

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Ms Meenal Singhvi had weak eyesight in childhood and had to wear specs to read the content written on the blackboard. Due to her family reasons, she had to shift from one place to another. First to Rajasthan and then Hyderabad; the journey was jerky for her. Even her family didn’t work much on her studies as girls were not given that importance in her family and shifted her from a good school to a random one. She even got married at an early age.

Soon her eyesight began to improve and the things were going on track but one day, suddenly her BP went low and doctor injected a wrong injection. As a result of this carelessness she was laid in comma and when she came to senses, her eyesight was vanished. She lost her complete eyesight in the year 2008. In a blink of eye, all her passions and desire to become a fashion designer came to an end. When she lost her eyesight she came to know about the importance of studies in life. But that was too late by then. It was really unfortunate that her father lost all her qualification certificates during the time of shifting the residence. Without any mistake of her, M Singhvi had to face so much of trauma. Despite being qualified, she encountered so many unnecessary challenges.

Ms Singhvi didn’t give up and gave life another chance. With perseverance and dedication, she could somehow accumulate all her certificates back. But the path wasn’t rosy anymore. She wanted to work in the field of technology but as she was a late blind, she had no clue about how to use computer. She talked to many people and asked for help but nobody cared. Not even a single person came to assist her. For next two long years, she didn’t do anything. But one day in a hospital she came to know about screen readers. It was the day and today is the day; she learned everything about technology and became completely independent

in all her computer endeavours. Of course, initially, it was challenging for her but she composed herself and overcame every difficulty with strong determination. She decided to complete her graduation in B.Com, learn computer and within a short time, she learned the necessary workings of computer and screen readers. Indeed, a quote by Alan Kay stands true for her: ‘The best way to predict the future is to invent it’! After learning all the skills she realised that there would be many in the world like her who don’t know about many things and there is nobody to help them too. This thing inspired her to take on a new yet tough path. She started teaching students online through skype and soon began to visit schools and colleges to assist the students in computer endeavours. Talking about her personal life, she has a beautiful daughter and handsome son too who are doing immensely great in their respective fields.

She never allowed vision impairment to overpower her. She had devoted herself in the world of disability and enlightenment. She earlier worked with an NGO named Icon consenting company which worked for mentally retorted, deaf and dumb people. Ms Singhvi played an important role in counselling the patients and with her innovative ideas increased the funds received by NGO. She tirelessly worked with this company for 4 years. She gained a lot of knowledge about other disabilities while working for this company. It was this experience that has helped her a lot in her life and she could understand the world of disabilities in a much better way.

Her craving to enlighten students and people with disability kept on increasing with passing time. Soon she started visiting colleges to assist students in computer learning and similar tasks. She has always believed in sharing. She shares her knowledge with everyone who seeks it. She is

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always ready to help people and ensures that no woman has to face any discrimination.

Ms Meenal Singhvi believes that in life apart from learning new things there is also a scope of entertainment. She turned her will into reality and started organized picnics, game shows and theatre for the disabled.

Ms. Meenal Singhvi is the President of Udaan Welfare Society... With a vision to do something for the community, she started an NGO (named Udaan Welfare Society in year 2014. The saying goes apt for her, ‘When you start on a way, the path begins to appear.’ She is the Director of Radio Udaan an online radio station that is the pet project of this NGO. The radio station hosts plenty of shows to enlighten, rejuvenate and uplift the listeners. Not just the people with disabilities but in mainstream too, the station has made an adored place. Even when doing her radio shows she made sure that apart from providing entertainment to the listeners, the shows should also offer some knowledge. The shows which she did offered a training platform to the listeners for their competitive exams. She has also taken training classes with regards to teaching JAWS and smart phones. It might interest you that Ms Singhvi is also President of Telangana Paralympic Association. It was only after speaking to the people around in Telangana she realised that nothing has been done in sports for the disabled. It was then this NGO was started to promote sports among the disabled.

She organized a seminar in the year 2015 in Hyderabad, conduct two work-shops in the year

2016 and 2017 and she also played an active role in all the 3 successful national conventions of Radio Udaan in the year 2015 in Delhi, 2016 in Ludhiana and 2017 in Hyderabad. These conventions turned out to be absolutely enlightening and inspiring for both the persons with disabilities and non-disabled people. Being the director of this station, she took care of every task wholeheartedly and put 200% to bring the best in the events. Whether it directly or indirectly, she participated in all the needed areas and worked untiringly behind the curtains too.

Awards:

Ms Meenal has never worked for awards or applause. But it is also true these recognitions motivate the talents and spirits. Somebody has rightly said that talents and capabilities never remain hidden. In the year 2015, she was awarded by Narayan Sanstha Seva Samithi for starting a unique project in disable society. She was also honoured by icon consulting for her prolific work. Recently she received Neelum Khurshed Kanga Award by NAB (National Association for the Blind).

As a person, Ms Singhvi is extremely elegant, lively, helpful, polite and most importantly ch-arming! You talk to her and you will be mesmerised by her demeanour and personality for sure.

Ms Meenal Singhvi has a vision to make a world where everyone can learn whatever he or she wants to learn. She says, “Disability should never be a hurdle in the lives of people.”

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NFB Cover Final CTP.cdr - National Federation of Blind

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Transcript of NFB Cover Final CTP.cdr - National Federation of Blind