During the college admissions season of 2023, Anusha Cerla from Telangana reached out to the Dombivli-based Blind Progressive Welfare Foundation (BPWF) for accommodation. She and a friend, both visually impaired, were in Mumbai to finalise their college admissions but had nowhere to stay. BPWF, an organisation supporting visually impaired individuals, made space in their small office in Dombivli (W) to offer them a roof over their heads. Today, this organization provides a home to 16 underprivileged visually impaired girls from rural Maharashtra, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal, who come to Mumbai to complete their education.
In less than two years since its establishment, the boarding facility has expanded from a cramped office room to a 1BHK rental apartment, now home to the girls. The facility offers accommodation, food, and co-curricular training. However, over 20 girls are currently waiting for a spot as soon as space becomes available.
The facility provided for the blind kids |
The initiative was started by two visually impaired retired government servants, Anil Divate (66), a former employee of the Bank of India, and Namruta Patkar (65) from Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL). Both were blind and members of BPWF. Divate, originally from Jalgaon, had received help from kind-hearted individuals in Mumbai, which enabled him to complete his education.
The facility provided for the blind kids |
Talking to The Free Press, Divate said, “While visually impaired students secure college admissions easily due to reserved seats, the real challenge lies in the high living costs in Mumbai. It is very difficult for underprivileged students to study here on meager funds. This issue has now become a key cause for our organisation.”.
BPWF, established in 2016, has worked on various initiatives such as celebrating Louis Braille’s birthday by organizing competitions for visually impaired individuals and holding haldi-kumkum ceremonies for blind women. The organization also takes underprivileged blind people on a pilgrimage annually.
Patkar, who could only complete Class 12 due to a lack of support, shared that blind students often join the academic year late, a challenge that persists in college. “This delay affects their chances of securing jobs later on. The first two girls staying at the facility were willing to sleep on the floor and eat just one meal a day, which motivated me to offer them all possible support.”
In 2023, the organisation’s journey took a significant turn with the opening of the boarding facility. Though the facility is primarily funded by Patkar’s pension and her son’s contribution for electricity bills, it receives generous support from donors, anthropologists, and other organizations. The Rotary Club of Bombay Bayview recently donated personalised cupboards, five laptops with tables and chairs, and offered regular support through their Annapurna scheme, providing monthly groceries.
While the organization faces space constraints, it plans to open a similar facility for visually impaired boys pursuing higher education in Mumbai. Divate added, “The girls are now even taking computer courses and preparing for banking exams. Although financing is a major challenge, we are determined to ensure no one is deprived of the education they deserve because of financial constraints.”
