info
October 2013 Volume 1 l Issue 2
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Why the blinds girls are forced to face the fear of society How can the blind girls could Most of the blind girls due be made self-dependent? Lots of the girls were normal and were
to social pressure and fear remain at home, unaware of what is going on around the world over and thus, lose their own recognition. Its difficult to bring such girls out of their fear. When they would realize that they are human and when they will be independent. When the parents get old then it becomes very hard for such girls, but till that time, its too late. The parents of these girls should not lend their fear upon them, as they think that how they will go out without being able to see the things. Many a times it is seen that only one girl out of the whole village gets educated, as the parents sent her to school.
able to see till the age of 16 – 17 but now they are blind. The family members kept them in their home and gradually they lost their self confidence. The parents don't believe that they could walk on road alone or they could do the household chores without any difficulty. It’s a challenge to teach these girls to complete such activities without being assisted by anyone. First of all they are taught to complete the household chores and how to walk alone on road. They are trained mentally prepared for all these activities and it takes a long time. Even the modern education should be given to such women and girls. Training which can given them employment also. Computer, Research Training should be given to those girls and women. Those who are totally illiterate should be trained in handicraft work. Recently the training on massage – spa also started as its on high demand.
Blind girls are also part of the society, what is necessary to be done for these girls First of all keep faith on these blind girls and let them do they daily routine work without any support. If by accident if anyone gets blind or are blind by birth then the society should keep special
In my own words…
“Down, but never out”! - Neha Agarwal / Hyderabad Being the eldest child in a conventional Indian family has it’s advantages and disadvantages. Bestow by nature with loads of anxious energy, ambition, enthusiasm, the age of 19 saw my life changing forever. Abolt from the blue brought for her the diagnosis of Stevens–Johnson syndrome [A drug induced reaction during a viral fever] with leaving me with a 95% vision impairment. Being strong, resilient and determined, my struggle had only just begun. Fighting odds both internally and externally I set out to achieve my goals. My family struggled along with me to regain the equilibrium that was snatched from our lives and coping with a condition so far unimagined.
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At my flash back, “In 2003, I felt like I was hit by an avalanche. Life was at the peak of destruction, Left with endless despondency, with feeling like life will never be the same hereafter. It was extremely challenging for me to cope with this ambiguity”. “I couldn’t accept, to live the life of a blind person. I would not be able to see my parents anymore and the world around me. left to touch and feel my way around, not knowing where I was or what I was touching. It was the toughest time of my life. I was fighting denial, self loathing, while experiencing varied degrees of rejection from society. I was completely broken from with-
attention on them, specially the girls. Firstly the myth that if you are not able to see then you can't do anything should be kept away. I believe that after proper training these blind girls can be more effective in their working and many a times it is seen that only one girl in entire village gets education, as she is sent to school, but when she returns back to home, she becomes dependent on others, because of the family mentality. It is seen that normally a mentally retarded boys are married to blind girls. These girls are not allowed to do anything and even for food they have to wait that someone would come and feed them.
What is the condition of girls in Indian scenario
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Talk with Shalini Khanna, Director, National Association for the Blind (Women), New Delhi by Divya Sahu
The girls are made like bondage at home, what efforts could be done for their safety? We all are having the same problem, that how to give safe atmosphere for the girls. We have trained the blind girls with martial art training, so that they could defend themselves. We have taught them where to call during emergency. The travel on metro is safe, but there is still problem while in buses.
What and how much the family support for making these girls self dependent? Firstly the government should give all of them good education as there are many a schools where there is no such facilities available. Atleast the government should give basic education including English, as it very important for jobs. Many entrepreneurs are also afraid to employ blind girls, thinking how can do the given task. Why the fear of others is enforced upon these girls? Till what time these girls would be made dependent upon others, When they will become self dependent. Their self dependency is more important because till the parents are young its no problem, but when the parents gets old – it is then it becomes hard for such girls.
I don't see any difference between a blind or a normal girl. If the girls are given chance to get educated they are 120 % better than boys and gives better result. Actually these girls had already faced such trauma in life that if they get even a single chance they try to encash that chance to their fullest power. We have arranged many blind girls to work in big factories and they are working their successfully grabbing other's attention. Girls from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar's rural areas also approached and got graduate through open schooling and later completed their B Ed and are now teachers english adoptation by Rekha Khare / Bilaspur
in, Burdened with heavy depression. It was then that someone suggested I should enroll with the course at “Art of Living”. After lots of ups and downs, challenges, acceptance, rejection…, I began to see a faint light at the end of the dark tunnel, and accepted my impairment”. “My road to recovery had begun. I met Payal Kapoor, also blind, in Hyderabad, who counselled me and suggested to continue my education and learn computers. Thereafter I persevered, and completed my graduation majoring in psychology. Simultaneously my interest in information technology grew and I began to spend many hours at my computer”. “July 18th 2011, the day the course of immense change in my life. This was the one chance given to proof myself. I successfully completed a 3 month training for service management in collaboration with IBM by enable-india,
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Bangalore. There after I was given a chance to complete my internship, working on project with enable-india’s candidate database for around 3 months, being a novice, I had to fit into a work environment and enhance my skills to work on projects. In march 2012, I have returned to the same house where I have spent 9 years of my life as a blind person, now empowered, confident and happy. Essentially, armed with mobility skills using the white cane, a tool determining the degree of independence and self respect of a blind person. The newly aquired mobility skills added to my new found confidence, and this time around I began moving in the city all on my own. Revisiting some of my favourite haunts, visiting family and friends independently was an unparalleled experience”. “I am living my life independently, with dignity and confidence.Not wasting any
time, I signed up for a course in web development, in Hyderabad. Simultaneously I was being interviewed by IBM Hyderabad for various profiles. Finally my dream to be financially independent is here! On October 22nd 2012, I was offered the position of project coordinator in PMO which I accepted readily. Now I work in an organization of international repute, being called an IBMer! Life has come a full circle; once seeking motivation outside, I am today called upon to be the motivator, not a role to be taken lightly”. My parents have this to say about my journey, “You have changed immensely, acquired skills to deal with not only your peers, but also those which will stand you in good stead to move on in life. The first baby steps have picked pace and are moving from strides to leaps. We are proud of you!”
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