Delhi: Megha, a resident of Patna, Bihar, lost her vision in grade 6. She received her education with the support of career counsellors. She has now secured a position as a Lower Division Clerk in the Defence Ministry. Simu, hailing from Assam, has been blind since birth. When her father learned about her blindness, he abandoned her mother. Simu and her mother found refuge in a shelter home in Delhi. Today, Simu is a member of the National Blind Team. She is currently learning typing and is preparing for a government position.

Ram Kumar has been devotedly working to support visually impaired girls. He has established a small shelter home which offers hostel-like facilities. He offers support from academic assistance to preparation for competitive exams and interviews. Let’s delve deeper into his inspiring journey.

Ram Kumar’s journey

Ram Kumar grew up in Bihar and pursued his studies in Delhi. After the completion of his studies, he opened a recruitment firm in Delhi. He shares an instance that deeply moved him and prompted him to extend his support to visually impaired people. It was the time of COVID, and he headed out of home to buy medicines. When all the roads were deserted due to the lockdown, he saw a blind senior citizen begging on the road. He was disheartened to see the poor man’s helpless situation. From then on, Ram Kumar resolved to take action for the blind community. 

Working with an NGO

When the lockdown measures eased, Ram Kumar joined an organization as a volunteer. At the time, he was also preparing for bank recruitment exam. He had significant knowledge about competitive exams and wished to extend support to visually impaired girls in applying for government exams. He provided young students with career guidance and financial assistance. When a blind boy secured a job for the first time, the boy’s father expressed gratitude to Ram Kumar for guiding his son towards self-reliance. 

Learning about the problems

Ram Kumar interacted with 400 to 500 visually impaired people and learned the reasons behind their begging on the roads. He understood their needs and decided to provide his support to give them a better life. In his endeavour, he decided to open a school. Presently, some organizations have assured him to provide support, and Ram Kumar would soon establish a school for boys and girls in Bihar. 

Battle for Blindness

In 2022, Ram Kumar received immense support which led him to establish an NGO called Battle for Blindness. He opened a shelter home for 8 blind girls in Dwarka. Some parents support his endeavour financially, and girls without parental support receive a monthly scholarship of Rs 1200. The NGO helps girls in preparing for competitive exams such as Railways, Banking, and SSB. Presently, 40 visually impaired students receive support from the NGO. Ram Kumar mentions that around 5 to 7 students secure government jobs through their support. 

Assisting students

Ram Kumar receives calls from blind girls seeking assistance with admissions and guidance. He meets with these students and collaborates with colleges and institutions to provide them support. Students living in rural areas lack information about competitive exams, preparation, and interview processes. Moreover, students living in Dwarka shelter home are not charged any fees. The NGO has a unique procedure where they receive one rupee from every girl who secures a job and will save the coin with them as a memento for the rest of their lives. 

Extending support

Ram Kumar highlights the lack of awareness in society. Many blind students fail to pursue higher education due to the lack of support and knowledge. People often don’t accompany visually impaired students to exam halls fearing that it would lead to legal issues. However, this is only a misconception. A person accompanying the blind person to the exam halls must only have lower qualifications and must not be appearing for the same government job exam, to avoid any conflicts of interest.