Morung Express News
Dimapur, January 16
The Naga Blind Association observed International Louis Braille Day on 4th January. For most of them, it would be one of the very few exercises that identify them with being part of this world: it gives them the courage to hold on: they have nothing to call their own – no education, source of income, modern amenities, or relatives to help them, long-term assistance from the government. Many feel ‘like vegetables’ with no means of earning to sustain themselves leave alone their families, who themselves hardly earn or not at all.
“There are about 59 members. Many of us are ‘voluntarily’ surviving. We try to self-reliant but it is hard to survive” said K Yapang Longkumer, President of the NBA, which incepted in the year 2000 and registered in 2001.
They are mostly from poor families and it is only the association which gives them a sense of belonging. “Many of us are left at home just like that because we are disabled and have no other source of income. We have been constantly seeking assistance from the Government. But their help is insubstantial” according to one member, who refused to be identified.
For the NBA the only thing which gives them hopes of surviving bleak times are the vocational programs which they hold every year, offering courses on Braille (English and Hindi), Music, Typing (English), candle and chalk making, mobility and handicrafts. Even the expenses incurred were only through donations and whatever money they could garner from among themselves.
To the query if they have approached the State Government to address their grievances, they have little to say. “We have occasional ‘grant-in-aids’ and we were also assured 5% reservation of jobs but it only for those qualified” says Yapang adding that a more assistance would have been a better assurance, though.
“Even the vocational is financed entirely by us. What can we do?” According to one of the members the Chief Minister ‘donated’ one Auto Rickshaw to the association ‘to earn their livelihood’. However, the Auto met with an accident after 4 months after which, from want of finance to repair the lone source of the union’s “income’ it was relegated to the scrap heap. “We also tried running a small hostel to help us, but unfortunately, its income was too insufficient to sustain us” Yapang said.
They still hope the Government would do something to alleviate their suffering. “If the Government supports us we would be able to survive. They should support us” says Yapang. Till now they undertake fund-drives and other activities to promote self-reliance among them, entirely on their own resources.
It is learnt that the Social Security and Family Welfare department, Government of Nagaland were approached by the NBA of many occasions for projects and assistance but till now the files are “still under process”. Also, last year on December 6, the Welfare Department is said to have visited the NBA and were assured of all possible help.
However, the assurances are still yet to materialize into concrete assistance to subsist on. “It is our faith that the public and the Government would help us. We cannot do much” Yapang hopes.
