The Blind Relief Association, Delhi

1944 - Establishment of the Association by Mrs. Anusuya & Mr. U.A. Basrurkar, eminent freedom fighters and social workers.

1955 - Foundation stone of the building at New Delhi laid by Dr. Helen Keller, renowned philosopher, educationist and social reformer of U.S.A.

1966 - Inaugauration of the building by Smt. Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India.

1967 - J.P.M. Senior Secondary in memory of Shri Jormal Periwal, Donor, for the substantial contribution.

- Training Center for Teachers of the Blind and shifting candle making unit from Badarpur to New Delhi.

1994 - Vocational training in book binding/stationary making, repair of household electrical/electronic appliances.

2006 - Establishment of Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education (Visual Impairment).

PRESIDENTS (PAST & PRESENT)

The Association is proud that such eminent persons as Sri.G.V Mavalankar, Sri Ananthasayanam Ayyangar, former Speakers of Lok Sabha; Dr. (Mrs) Durgabai Deshmukh, a renowned social worker, educationist and freedom fighter; and until 2007, Dr. Bharat Ram a distinguished industrialist and philanthropist served as the President of the Association in the past. The Association is privileged to have now Justice (Dr) A.S.Anand, former Chief Justice of India and Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, as its President

Members : Mrs. Usha Ravi Sen, Ms. Madhu Toshniwal, Mr. Sanjeev Anand, Mrs. Asha Subhash Gogte, Dr. Anil Kohli, Mr. A.K. Mittal, Mr. Kamalbir Singh, Mr. Lalit Nirula, Mr. Sushil Ramola.

EDUCATION

DURGABAI DESHMUKH COLLEGE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

The Association has started one-year Bachelor of Education (Special Education for Visual Impaired) Course affiliated to Delhi University from Academic Year 2006-07. For this purpose the Association has established a college under the name Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education (Visual Impairment). NIVH has been extending its assistance to the this prestigious Bachelor's degree programme at the College.

J.P.M. SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

The Government-aided JPM School is an all-boys residential school providing education and comprehensive range of services free to around 200 students under its care. The School is affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education.
The School also has a Nursery section, which prepares children for future educational tasks through the playway method. The foundation of learning laid here helps build a sound educational edifice in years ahead.
Special academic and equipment support is also provided to the children with low vision.

Activities like music, dance, sports, yoga, martial arts, reflexology, trekking, mountaineering are integral to tne school programme.

PROGRAMME FOR CHILDREN WITH MULTIPLE DISABILITIES

Unit for children with learning disabilities & visual impairment, which started in 1986, has now broadened its scope. This programme is catering to the needs of visually impaired children with moderate mental retardation. Different teaching approaches are adopted here with good results. The children are taught in small groups, with special attention to their specific needs.

VOCATIONAL TRAINING

TECHNICAL TRAINING CENTRE

This Center provides vocational training in a wide range of industrial and other occuoations to visually impaired adults. The training also includes orientation and mobility, communication skills etc.
The Light Engineering Training Course (1 Year) caters to the less educated among the visually impaired. General Mechanic-cum-Machine Operator's Course (1 Year) is for those who have passed Class VIII. Training covers areas of factory work, like assembly jobs, inspection work, operating such machines as power press, drilling and tapping machines etc. This course is recognized by the Board of Technical Education, Government of Delhi and is equivalent to I.T.I. Course.

ELECTRONIC TRAINING

The one-year training prepares low-vision and orthopedically handicapped in repair and maintenance of household electrical and electronic gadgets.

PAPER CRAFT: BOOK BINDING AND STATIONERY MAKING

This six month training aims at enabling the young visually impaired, especially those who are not good in academics to learn book binding, making carry bags, file covers, note pads, etc. that can provide them a sustained livelihood.

COMPUTER TRAINING

To prepare the visually impaired to avail the growing job opportunities in IT-related and IT-supported office operations, the following course are offered:

Computer literacy course for students of the J.P.M. School covers Jaws, windows, Ms Office, Internet, Scanning.

DRISHTI -CALL CENTRE TRAINING

In July 2008, the Association, jointly with Tata Tecom Services, started an On-the-Job Training Call Centre, named DRISHTI. It is a unique venture to train visually challenged persons in telemarketing services. The trainees while mastering the skills of telemarketing earn while they learn. It is hoped that having undergone the call center training the trainees will be able to compete better for call center jobs in the market.

RELAXATION & THERAPEUTIC MASSAGE TRAINING

This 3-month course has been designed and conducted in collaboration with the famous VLCC Institute of Beauty, Health & Management. Training is imparted in Swedish, Thai, Aroma and Head Massage, including the use of gadgets like vibrator for relaxation and fat reduction. Relatively new to |ndia, this training for the visually impaired has opened up new avenues for job and self-employment.

CANDLE MAKING

This programme provides training and remunerative work to the visually impaired Representatives/personnel from NGOs/welfare organizations are also welcomed to undergo training to start such programmes in their centers. Wide range of candles produced at BRA are greatly sought after by the public.

SERVICES

RECORDING STUDIO FOR TEXT BOOKS

The audio books recorded in the studio cater to the JPM School for the Blind as well as to university students in and around Delhi. Recorded audio-cassettes are also provided on request to other institutions and individuals. A large number of volunteers from the community help in recording of textbooks and other reading material. Plans are a foot to provide recordings in CDs.

BRAILLE PRODUCTION UNIT

The unit has a computerized Braille production facility with electronic Braille printers with transcription software for books in English, Hindi and Sanskrit. IT-based Braille transcription facility in 12 Indian languages is also available.

HEALTHCARE

The medical inspection center, with a doctor and round the clock male/female nurses, undertakes regular check up of students/trainees with free provision of medicines. Major hospitals/clinics help in detailed health/ophthalmic services to the children on a periodical basis.

JOB COUNSELLING AND PLACEMENT

The Association has a Placement Cell that gives job counselling to the trainees and other job aspirants and helps them in securing suitable employment. The newly employed are also extended necessary advice and help on workplace familiarization and for ensuring optimum productivity. The Cell maintains constant interaction with industrial establishments, public and private sector offices, service organizations etc. and networks with various agencies to break psychological barriers and to convince the prospective employers on why it makes good business sense employing a qualified visually impaired person. Many employers have found engaging the Association-trained visually impaired persons a profitable and economical proposition. The Association is proud that as many as 14 of its trainees have won National Awards for outstanding performance.

SPORTS

INDIAN BLIND SPORTS ASSOCIATION

The Association has always played a prominent role in promoting sports among the visually handicapped. It was the initiative of BRA that Indian Blind Sports Association was formed in 1986 as the national level body for the promotion of athletics and different sports for the blind. Indian Blind Sports Association is recognized by the Indian Olympic Association and is affiliated with the International Blind Sports Federation, the apex world blind sports organization, and with Paralympic Committee of India. BRA also hosts jointly with Indian Blind Sports Association, national-level Sports Meets for the Blind once every two years. The Sports Meet is the largest sports event for the visually impaired in the country which attracts hundreds of sports persons from institutions across the country from different states who compete in athletics, chess and swimming.

NEWS & EVENTS

DIWALI BAZAAR

To raise funds for its programmes and activities the Association organizes a bazaar at the time of Diwali every year. This hugely popular event attracts a large number of buyers of the Association's candles and an attractive range of products put on sale by other participants in the Bazaar.

This year Diwali Bazaar will be organised from 7th October, 2009 to 15th October, 2009.

SUPPORT US

YOU CAN ALSO HELP US

For running such a large number of programmes and services for the visually impaired the Association depends largely on the goodwill and philanthropy of the society. You too can lend your support to us in a number of ways, through:
Personal association and active participation in the activities for the education, training and welfare of the visually impaired Voluntary work, reading and recording for children
Giving monetary or material support to help us make our goals a reality. (Monetary donations to the Association are exempt under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act-1961)

Corporate funding of projects or programmes aimed at making the visually impaired self-reliant Mobilizing funds for the Association's activities Employing visually impaired persons, not out of sympathy but on merit of their skill and output. Contact or visit us for a spot assessment of our trainees. Our placement officer can also get in touch with you. In many jobs blindness is no handicap. A visually impaired worker's output is equal to - and sometimes more than-that of a sighted person. Give us the opportunity to see whether there is any work for the visually impaired person in your firm where the visually impaired can compete on equal terms with the sighted staff.

The Blind Relief Association, Delhi
Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg,
Near Oberoi Hotel,
New Delhi-110003 (INDIA)
Phone -91 -11 -24361376,
Fax-91-11-24364730
Email - lbsbra@bol.net.in
Website-www.blindreliefdelhi.org

ABOUT US

Fact File

PRESIDENTS (PAST & PRESENT)