Bengaluru: Fifty-seven-year-old Madhu Singhal was visually impaired since birth, but she never let that come in her way. Instead she has now become an inspiration for other visually impaired people to lead a more self reliant life.
Madhu is the founder of Mitra Jyothi, (a charitable trust working to assist visually impaired adults lead independent and dignified lives, through education, training, counselling). “It has been a very long and tedious journey but I always believed and taught my students that they cannot wait for anybody to help them. We have to just go out there to be heard,” said Madhu, who recently was honored with a doctorate degree in literature by the Karnataka State Women's University, Vijayapura.
A registered charitable trust, it was formed in 1990 with the objective of integrating ‘persons with disability’ into mainstream society. Her trust has facilitated jobs for more than 1,000 members who are either blind or have some other disability. In addition, more than 500 people from across the country have been trained in independent living skills. “More than 900 people have been trained in computer education, which has helped them find better jobs,” Madhu said.
“Along with workshops and training facilities we now have a ‘talking library’ as there are not many books for the blind. Hence all educational text books get converted into audio format by turning them into cassettes. There are many volunteers and retired people who help us with that,” explains Madhu. The mission of Mitra Jyothi is to assist the visually impaired adults and their families lead independent and dignified lives through education, training, counseling, communication and technology.
“At Mitra Jyothi, we believe that all persons with disability have the potential to become independent and self-sufficient, and given the right opportunities they can achieve their goals. Our main area of work is to assist the visually impaired, but our Placement Cell assists people with all disabilities,” says Madhu, who despite her impairment was an extremely brilliant student and was selected “The Best All Round Student” from Vaish Women’s college, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak (Haryana) in 1981.
Madu passed B.A with a 1st division and was selected “The Best All Rounder Student” from Vaish women’s college, Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak (Haryana) in 1981. She did her M.A in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music in Maharishi Dayanand University and again got a 1st division in 1983.
The Trust runs different programmes for the visually impaired. They are Talking Book Library, Independent Living Skills, Braille Transcription Centre, Job Placement Cell and Computer Training Centre.
"We have served approximately 7,000 disabled people since our inception in 1990 directly and indirectly through our various programs," says the founder, who adds that the library has 38 institutions which take books from them and 2500 visually impaired members who actively use the resources.
