Blind people in western India form cooperative

From Daiji World:

PANAJI, India -- With government jobs becoming a distant dream, Maharashtra-based cooperative society of blinds have provided self-employment to around 225 people, outsourced from various state government establishments.

“We usually look after the maintenance job right from re-caning of chairs, furniture, repairing, polishing and even manufacturing new furniture,” Maharahstra Andha Audyogik Utpadak Sahakari Sanstha (maryadit) president Shaikh sayyed Nanhu said.

The cooperative society’s list of esteemed clientele includes Mantralaya, Bhivandi Municipal Corporation, High court, sessions court, sales tax, excise and even police department. Interestingly, it is based in Mumbai, the metro with having highest number of blind people in the country.

Nanhu said that the turnover has touched Rs 35 lac last financial year, which is a jump from the initial turnover of Rs two lac, when they began in 1990.

“The entire operations are handled by blind people right from the work to delivery,” he added.

The concept stems from the basic fact that the organizations working for handicapped are related to religious entities, which makes them charitable institutions. “We decided that we will venture into cooperative sector where getting the grants may be an ardous task but for sure, we can make the blinds eke out respectable life,” he said.

Nanhu, who is in Goa with around 50 blind people to feel the sea, sand and surf, said that the youngest member of the society is 18 year old while the eldest one is 56.

“Maharashtra government’s resolution in 1999 to outsource maintenance work to our society brought in much needed assignments for us. Now we serve almost 90 per cent government offices, which gives us monopoly in the sector,” he said.

Nanhu, who originally hails from Himayat Nagar in Nanded district, is master of arts (MA) and conceived this society way back in 1990.

“People’s attitude towards blind people has not changed. There are many people who try to secure their blind child in the four walls of the house. That makes him more frustrated,” he said.

He said that the government which has announced one per cent job reservation is not able to do justice to blind people as there are hardly any government vacancies released.

The members of this cooperative venture have also set a good example through their successful stint in private jobs. “The blind person can work better where there is need of concentration… They are also humble and hardworking,” Usha Iyer, who herself is a blind and working at Bank of India’s Malad Branch in Mumbai, said.