NETHRODAYA Genesis

I was born with visual impairment but I first woke up to it when I was in Class 3 at the Sacred Heart School in Mogappair, Chennai. I realized I could not see as well as I used to. Initially, my parents and I thought glasses would solve the issue, but medical tests indicated otherwise. My vision started getting worse, leading to a long-drawn phase of turmoil filled with the darkest hours of my life.

It took me a long and agonizing time to come to terms with my changed reality. I felt completely alone in my predicament

Only when I went to college did I come in touch with other visually impaired students. I realized I wasn't alone.

This helped me understand my problem much better. Many of these students were enrolled in the city colleges for higher studies and were staying in the government hostel for SC/ST students. I discovered that as many as 22 students were crowded together in a room that was a mere 14 feet by 12 feet. The students had to sleep on the terrace or wherever there was space. Living conditions were way below even the lowest standards.

Another factor that deeply affected me was the lack of reading facilities for the visually challenged. By and by, I felt determined to change this entire scenario for the visually challenged. I decided to paint a different picture.

I organized for reading centers all over the city in places like Valluvarkottam and Thirumangalam, with able volunteers to provide excellent reading services. I also started fighting vigorously for various causes like the issue of free bus passes, scholarships and employment for the visually challenged, many times going to prison for the same. Once, when I protested for the employability for the visually challenged, I was put in the Central Prison for 12 days. I must admit that the food wasn't as bad as I had imagined.

It was to take some time before I could translate this understanding into action. After graduating from Pachiappa's College, I joined Banyan, an NGO working for mentally ill destitute women. I was a Project Officer. Working there gave me invaluable hands-on experience in managing social initiatives. Then, in 2001, I earned a Post-Graduate Diploma in Social Entrepreneurship from the Centre for Social Initiatives and Management (CSIM) in Chennai.

The project component in the curriculum during the diploma studies was what created a huge impact. It provoked me into spearheading a campaign for the cause of the visually challenged. As a part of the survey, I realized that the visually challenged students were left to fend for themselves.

The suburban railway network of Chennai happens to be their best livelihood option. On this network, I noticed that:

1. 119 visually challenged persons had been reducing to begging
2. Shockingly, 82 of these 119 people were educated
3. They also took to selling various household utility items and lottery tickets

I resolved to do something about this problem that not only affected the visually challenged but also the society as a whole.

Thus was born Nethrodaya on Oct.2, 2002, with the single-minded mission of giving education and respect to the visually challenged.

I am happy to share that the journey has been eventful, challenging - and very rewarding.

- Govinda Krishnan ,Founder Nethrodaya