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National
Federation of the Blind was established by a few awakened and
intellectual persons with visual disability on 3rd of March 1971 with
the philosophy” Let the Blind Lead the Blind”. Its aim was to launch a
self-help movement for ensuring equality and full participation in the
society for the people with visual disability in place of sympathy. To
ensure the success of this movement, the federation handed over the
leadership of the organization to the blind themselves. The Federation
spread its activities all over the country through its forty
Branches/Affiliates and Units scattered almost in every state. NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLINDNATIONAL PROJECT FOR EMPOWERMENT AND REHABILITATION OF THE BLIND
The National Federation of the Blind, the voice of the blind, is the largest self-help organization of the blind in India. It is founded on the philosophy “Let the Blind, Lead the Blind”. Some of the main objectives for which the Federation was established include: -
1. To strive for equality of opportunity for the blind in their education, training and employment. 2. To stimulate the provision of remunerative employment for the blind in all occupations which they can successfully practice. 3. To explore new avenues of employment for the blind. 4. To promote the production and distribution of educational & recreational materials to the blind in all available media. 5. To promote the education of the blind in the light of modern and practicable concepts. 6. To undertake or promote public education with a view to information to the public at large regarding the potential of the blind as students, workers & citizens. 7. To establish, sponsor or collaborate with other agencies in establishing organizations, institutions or services in fulfillment of any or all the above objectives. 8. To undertake or promote research, designed to stimulate progress in any aspect of the rehabilitation of the blind. 9. To cooperate with local, national and international agencies having objectives similar to those of the Federation or with likeminded individuals for such purposes as the Federation may deem fit. 10. To acquire, sell, mortgage or dispose in any fashion such property as may be considered necessary or expedient for the efficient functioning of the Federation. 11. To establish branches in any part of the union of India on such terms as the Federation may decide from time to time. 12. To raise funds by subscriptions, donations, grant-in-aid, bequests or in any other form that the Federation considers appropriate provided that such method of raising funds does not contravene any provision of the law in force for the time being. 13. To do such other things as are incidental or conducive to the achievement of any or all of the above objects.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
It is a democratic organization which is run and managed fully in accordance with democratic polity. Registered under Societies Registration Act-1860, the Federation has written bylaws and rules for its governance. The highest decision making forum is its General Body where each and every member is entitle to participate. This General Body elects the Office Bearers and Governing Council which is at National Level called National Executive Council. Every member has a non-transferable vote and is entitle to seek elections to any of the offices of the Federation at all levels if he/she fulfills the eligibility criteria as laid down in the bylaws. It operates in all parts of the country through its Branches and Affiliates at state level and units at district level. So far the Federation has its Branches and Affiliates in the following states: -
1. Andhra Pradesh 2. Kerala 3. Maharashtra 4. Rajasthan 5. Tamilnadu 6. Haryana 7. Madhya Pradesh 8. Jammu & Kashmir 9. Punjab 10. Uttranchal 11. Bihar 12. Gujrat 13. Uttar Pradesh 14. Karnataka 15. Pondicherry 16. Chhatishgarh 17. Assam
Simultaneously it has its district, regional units in the following areas:-
1. Kanpur (U.P.) 2. Mau (U.P.) 3. Cuddapah (A.P.) 4. Pune (MH) 5. Madurai (Tamilnadu) 6. Gorakhpur (U.P.) 7. Allahabad (U.P.) 8. Chengalpet (Chennai) 9. Nasik (MH) 10. Varanasi (U.P.) 11. Pauri Garhwal (Uttranchal) 12. Agra (U.P.) 13. Ghaziabad (U.P.) 14. Fatehur (U.P.) 15. Vidharba (Nagpur) 16. Marathwara (Aurangabad) 17. Haridwar (Uttranchal) 18. Trichirapalli (Trichy) 19. Coimbatore (TN) 20. Banda (U.P.) 21. Gwalior (M.P.) 22. Rai Bareily (U.P.) 23. Aligarh (U.P.) 24. Reeva (M.P.) 25. Jal Gaon (MH) 26. Ruhelkhand (Brailly) 27. Baliya (U.P.) 28. Ghazipur (U.P.) 29. Barabanki (U.P.) 30. Basti (U.P.) 31. Almora (Uttranchal)
In order to ensure that ultimate decision-making powers vest in the blind members only, a provision has been made in the bylaws to the effect that there should be not more than 25% sighted members out of the total membership. Apart from this, the important provision is that its Presidents and General Secretaries at all levels should be blind. It has further mentioned in the bylaws that 2/3 members of its governing council at all levels should be blind.
In brief, the National Federation of the Blind is a democratic organization where all the powers for decision-making are with the blind and due to this unique character of the Organization it is different from other organizations of or for the blind.
ACTIVITIES
The main thrust of the activities of the Federation are two fold. On one hand it strives for the protection of rights of the blind right from childhood up to the last moment of his/her life. In this process, it adopts all possible, permissible and legal means to fight against discrimination on the ground of blindness and also against the refusal of any entitlement available to them. It has the proud privilege of making the following achievements in the advocacy: -
1. The biggest achievement is the enactment of Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act-1995. This could be made possible as a result of fifteen years of long struggle beginning from 16th of March 1980. This act came in to force w.e.f. 7th of February 1996.
2. Another in important achievement is the decision of the apex court of India on a petition filled by National Federation of the Blind that the blind persons are eligible for holding the post of Indian Administrative Service. As a result of the said judgment the gate for the blind for entering into Indian Administrative Service could be opened. This also resulted into grant of ten years age relaxation in the upper age limit for the blind applicants in I.A.S. posts.
3. Special Recruitment against various posts particularly in group ‘C’ & ‘D’ As a result of struggle started by the Federation in the year 1980, over one thousand blind persons got employment against group ‘C’ & ‘D’ posts in various states. This includes: -
a) Appointment of 251 blind persons against various posts in U.P.- As a part of its struggle started by the Federation in 1980, an agitation was launched by NFB U.P. Branch in 1981 in U.P. The long struggle resulted into the acceptance of the demand by the then Govt. of U.P. During the chief ministership of Shri V.P. Singh, the cabinet decided to fill up the entire backlog of vacancies in group ‘C’ & ‘D’ against 1% reserved quota for the blind. Through this cabinet decision it was made mandatory to appoint one blind person in each department in every district and lecturers in all Govt. Inter colleges. Thus, a total number of 251 persons were appointed in U.P.
b) Special Recruitment Drive 1987 in Central Govt. Offices: - As a result of the sustained struggle the Govt. of India in the year 1987 decided to launch special recruitment drive for filling up of entire backlog of the vacancies against group ‘C’ & ‘D’ posts. To fill up the group ‘C’ posts one special recruitment committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Chairman Staff Selection Commission, while, the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment was empowered to fill up group D posts. As a result of this special recruitment exercise 131 blind persons were appointed in group ‘C’ posts while 130 in group ‘D’ posts in various Central Govt. offices/Private Sector Undertakings. A similar exercise was started in the year 1995 and over 200 blind persons throughout India got employment under this exercise.
c) The National Federation of the Blind Haryana State Branch was responsible for appointment of over one hundred blind persons as teachers and against other group ‘D’ posts in the year 1992 and similar number of teachers in the year 2004.
d) As a result of judicial approach by the Federation on behalf of Rajasthan Netraheen Sewa Sangh the Govt. of Rajasthan has already decided to fill up 376 posts among the blind against teaching posts. Out of these 175 have already been filled up while remaining 201 posts are to be filled up in the coming months.
Apart from the Advocacy work the Federation is engaged in undertaking various activities aimed at empowerment and rehabilitating the blind in all sectors of life with a view to ensure their self reliance and economic independence. The detail of each of the activities being undertaken by the Federation for which necessary corpus is to be created for ensuring its sustenance is as under:-
A. EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES:-
1. RUNNING OF SCHOOLS The Federation is currently running three schools for the blind with its own resources:-
i. Residential School for the blind children at Manglore, Karnataka ii. Blind School at Kanpur iii. School for Sightless Girls at Jammu by J&K Branch iv. Blind Girls School, Bilaspur, Chhattishgarh
In these schools the students are provided with free boarding, lodging and educational facilities by efficient teaching and non-teaching staff. In addition, it is proposed to set up another school for sightless girls at Mau U.P. keeping in view the large number of blind girls identified in this area under Rural Rehabilitation Project.
2. RUNNING OF HOSTELS FOR COLLEGE GOING BLIND STUDENTS
Presently the Federation is running Hostels for college going blind students at Bangalore & Masoure in Karnataka. The inmates of these hostels are provided with free boarding and lodging facilities as well as a study support services such as readers etc. It is proposed to establish similar hostels at Delhi, Mumbai, Ajmer, Chennai, Varanasi, Patna, Raipur, Dehradoon, Bhopal, Kolkata and Vadodara.
3. AWARD OF SCHOLARSHIP
The federation has launched a scheme for award of scholarship to meritorious blind students throughout the country from the present academic year. Under this scheme, it is proposed to award scholarship to 5000 students @ Rs.1000 p.m. per student for graduation and for Post Graduation @ Rs.1,500 p.m.
4. BRAILLE PRESS
The Federation is running a Braille press at Bahadurgarh, Haryana to meet the requirement of Braille books at very subsidized rates. It is proposed to establish similar Braille Presses at Thiruvananthapuram at Kerala, Bhopal in M.P., Guwahati in Assam and Bilaspur in Chatisgarh.
5. BRAILLE LIBRARY
The Federation is running a circulating Braille library at Bahadurgarh Haryana which is benefiting around 1000 blind readers throughout the country. It is proposed to establish similar Braille Libraries in Chennai, Patna, Bhopal and Vadodara.
B. REHABILITATION ACTIVITIES
1. Rural Rehabilitation activity: -Under this activity, the Federation through its trained staff conducts a survey in rural areas of selected districts and identify the blind individuals residing in those areas. After the identification of the blind individuals, efforts are made to get benefits to them under various poverty alleviation schemes. The Federation also spends its own funds for ensuring economic independence and for making the identified blind individuals self- reliant and a supporting member of the family. The thrust is also on the inclusion of blind individuals under historic National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme by proposing to launch regress training programs as well as co-ordinate with implementing agencies of the said scheme. The Federation also provides assistance to the blind individuals to start their small business and also provide assistance for meeting their daily requirement till such time they are economically rehabilitated.
2. Economic Rehabilitation Scheme:- As a part of this activity the Federation through its Placement Service Scheme on one hand makes efforts for employment of blind persons in various jobs in public and private sector and on the other hand through its Self –Employment Scheme provide soft loans to blind individuals who are willing to undertake self employment initiatives. In Addition, the Federation has established training cum production centers in Delhi, Lucknow, Trichnapalli, Calicut, Aurangabad and is proposing to establish some new training cum production centers. In these Centers, the Federation during training period of three months provide stiphend @ Rs.85 per day and after successful completion of the training, the trained blind individuals are provided with job opportunities on the payment of wages linked with their production.
3. Distribution of Aids & Appliances: - In order to enable the blind individuals to become self-dependant, it is essential that necessary aids and appliances required for promoting their independent living skills are provided to them. Keeping in view the importance of the distribution of aids and appliances, the Federation proposes to distribute such aid and appliances to number of blind individuals in the country.
4. EYE CAMPS: - It is noticed that many individuals are suffering from blindness which is curable and the functioning of some other individuals and also there are some individuals whose functioning can be improved by interventions. It is therefore proposed to hold eye camps in all 209 districts where Rural Rehabilitation program is being undertaken by the Federation.
C. LEGAL AID & LITERACY: Under this activity the Federation assists the blind individuals in fighting against discrimination and also for protecting their rights by way of court process.
D. VOCATIONAL TRAINING Due to changing economic scenario and emerging trends in the job market it is very essential to establish at least one training center in each of the State for imparting vocational training compatible with the job market. Hence it is proposed to set up one vocational training institute in each State with facility to impart training in variety of trades to 200 trainees each.
E. HOMES FOR SENIOR CITIZENS
According to National Census the incidence of blindness is substantial in the old age. Due to bias and prejudice, these blind senior citizens are often neglected by family members and are not provided with due care and support. It is therefore proposed to establish five homes for blind senior citizens at Delhi, Kanpur, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad and Bhubneshwar.
F. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT There has been a rapid development in the technology benefit of which has not flown to the blind in their empowerment and overall rehabilitation. It is therefore proposed to establish two pioneering research centers and Delhi and Vadodara where meaningful research would be conducted with ultimate objective of development of such equipments, aid & appliances and techniques to promote socio-economic rehabilitation of the blind. G. INFRASTRUCTURAL REQUIREMENT In order to implement all these activities and to provide permanency to the organization and projects run by it, the Federation has created some infrastructure both at National level and at the State and District levels. Some more infrastructures is required to be created in the form of land and building as well as equipment wherever the activities are being run in rented buildings.
The aforesaid activities cover all aspects of life of the blind and are beneficial to the society at large as the initiatives taken or propose to be taken will ultimately remove the burden on the society of giving passive community care to the blind to constitute one percent of the total national population.
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Brief History
