The
National Federation of The Blind came into existence
in the year 1970 with the philosophy "Let the
Blind Lead the Blind". The objective for which
the Federation was founded include to strive for equality
of opportunity for the Blind in the field of Education,
Training and Employment etc. The Federation is serving
the blind community through its various Welfare programmes
run by 51 branches/affiliates and units throughout
the country. It has total strength of membership of
over 25000 and it is affiliated to World Blind Union.
The Federation is running the following projects for
the Welfare of the blind in different states.
-
Braille Libraries at Bahadurgarh
(Haryana), Raibariely (U.P.) & Coimbatore
(Tamilnadu): Under this scheme we circulate Braille
books to blind readers throughout the country
free of charge and currently have 26500 volumes
of 1600 titles.
-
Computerized Braille Press
for Blind at Bahadurgarh (Haryana) & Trivendrum
(Kerala) States respectively: Under this project
we are providing Braille Books in Hindi &
English and regional languages to Students upto
12th Standard. Besides this monthly Braille Magazines
are also being published in Hindi & English.
-
School for the sightless children
at Kanpur (U.P.), Jammu (J&K), Pune (Maharashtra),
Kannur (Kerala), Bilaspur (Chattishgarh) &
Mangalore (Karnataka): Under this project free
boarding, lodging and education is provided.
-
Hostel for College Going Blind
Students: Under this project, we are running hostels
for college going blind students at Bangalore
and Mysore in Karnataka where free boarding and
lodging is provided to the inmates besides meeting
their other educational requirements.
-
Scholarship Scheme:- The Federation
has launched a scholarship scheme under which
about thousand blind students from different states
has been awarded scholarship’s for pursuing
their higher studies. The maximum amount of scholarship
is Rs. 1000/- per month.
-
Educational Loan scheme: Under
this scheme, the federation is giving interest
free loans to the blind students for payment of
their tuition fees for B.Ed course since teaching
is a major avenue for employment for the blind.
-
Placement Service for the
Blind.
-
Self – Employment Loan
Scheme:- Under this scheme, the federation gives
soft loans to the unemployed blind to enable them
to earn their livelihood.
-
Rural Rehabilitation Project:-
under this project, the federation undertakes
survey of blind person in rural areas, identify
their needs and facilitate benefits under various
government schemes to them. Currently, this project
is being run in Baliya, Mau, Kanpur, Gorakhpur,
Gonda, Deoria, Gazipur and Varansi Uttar Pradesh.
-
Housing Loan Scheme:- Under
this scheme the federation gives housing loan
at very low rate of interest and on easy terms
to the blind.
-
Orientation & Mobility
Service for Blind:- Under this project the federation
through its mobility instructor impart training
to the blind children and adult in independent
mobility and daily living skills.
-
Recording Libraries:- Federation
is running Audio Recording Library at Lucknow
(U.P.) and Cuddapah (A.P.)
