NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND

NATIONAL PROJECTS FOR  EMPOWERMENT AND REHABILITATION OF THE BLIND- A WRITE UP ON THE ACTIVITES DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 2005 TO NOVEMBER 200 7   

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 16^th of March 1980.  This act came in to force w.e.f. 7^th 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 minister ship 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.