Nagpur, 01 Oct (HS): Today life without any devices
has become difficult. Think of life without mobile phone, computer, internet,
vehicles. The Persons with Disabilities (PwD) also use some devices to lead
life like those called normal. Why not accept them as normal, who are using
some additional devices.
Jidnyasa Kubde-Chawaldhal argued. The approach of
the society towards the PwD need to be changed, PwDs never expect sympathy from
the society. Instead, empathetic approach by extending support for doing any
work to their potential would be appreciated.
Jidnyasa started losing her eyesight when she was
18 years of age, and a BA first year student. By the next years she was
diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa turning her to 100 percent blind.
After an initial shock, she was started visualising
her own future positively, with the support of her family, particularly her
mother who was an English teacher at a social work college in Nagpur. She
pursued education and acquired MSCIT, MS Office, TALLY and Computer Operation
and Programming Assistant course. She also completed Yoga Praveen examination,
Reiki Master, music, and Naturopathy, studied Accupressure, Hasta Mudra and
Hypnotherapy. Married to a businessman Yogeshwar Chawaldhal and have a daughter
Dewanshi, now studying in tenth standard.
The opening statement of this report speaks volumes
about blind Jidynasa’s vision, who is persistently working for training,
employment self-employment and development of the blind.
Atmadeepam
After working with many prominent institutions and
persons, she established a social organisation – Atmadeepam Society, which was
formally registered in 2012. Starting with 11 used computers received in
donation, she started imparting training in using computers to the blind.
Admadeepam today has sub0centres in Wardha, Amravati and Chitrakut (MP),
besides the headquarters in Nagpur.
By training the visually impaired and the blind in
computer operations, the training in screen reading Applications, Google
operation, JAWS, Non-Visual Desktop Apps, Android Phone Operation, Travel
Ticket Booking, Paying Electric Bills, using Internet, and now Artificial
Intelligence based on the needs of the blind for their rehabilitation. The
emphasis was on training the blind in rural areas, realising the ignorance of
the society about the potential of the disabled. The blind are usually dumped
as useless persons and left for begging.
Research and Collaboration: Atmadeepam also generated awareness about various
schemes started by the Central and State Government for the PwD. Besides
generating awareness, the organisation also collaborated with many research and
social organisations for income generating programmes like producing
biodegradable sanitary napkins in collaboration with the Laxminarayan
Innovation Technology University (LITU), MoU with Visvesaraya National
Institute of Technology (VNIT) for research and designing devices for the PwD
etc.
KVIC: A total of
760 women from rural areas were trained in various income generating trades. Of
the 760 women 174 have started their own business. The programme was conducted
in collaboration with the Khadi and Village Industries Commission.
Jidnyasa is a resource person for career awareness
for the PwD at national level. A total of 189 jobs in 27 sectors have been
identified for the PwD. She is conducting national workshops for working
independently by the disabled.
Sports
With a vision for promoting overall development of
the blind, Admadeepam started sports activities for them beginning from popular
game cricket and football. Nagpur team became the state champion in cricket in
2019 and the team was felicitated by none other than Sachin Tendulkar. Jidnyasa
also insttumental in carving out the Vidarbha Chapter from the Association for
Blind Crcket in India, an ICC recognised association.
The students also excelled in Football, Goalball,
Chess and plan to start training in archery in the near future.
Employment:
Admadeepam trained about 6000 PwDs, including 600
from the economically weaker sections in providing various services. More than
135 have secured government jobs and over 200 are self-employed.
Eye Donation by Blind: Recently 117 blind persons pledged to donate eyes, after being
motivated by Jidnyasa. A blind person can donate cornea, if not damaged. The
cornea is harvested with a few minutes after death. This was unique even widely
publicised by the media.
The mission continues with vigour with the support
of the society.
This is an effort to give back to the society,
which has helped them in improving their life, Jidnyasa Kubde-Chawaldhal said.
Jidnyasa is heading and is a resource persons for
many organisation, including the Association for Blind Cricket of Vidarbha,
Commission for the PwD, SAKSHAM etc.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Ajay Vasant Mardikar
