IN THE YEAR OF 1995 (FACT OF THE MUMBAI CITY FOR HAWKER VISUALLY CHALLENGED) : when Railway authorities put some restrictions on hawkers, the railway police started harassing these ‘Low Income Group of visually challenged’ for hawking ‘bits and pieces’ items on the railway bridges or in any other location inside the railway station which was a suitable place for a visually challenged to earn the
ir lively hood. They were beaten up , their goods were confiscated and thrown on the railway tracks by the railway police with an utter disregard for common human decencies. Under great stress and facing insurmountable difficulties these visually challenged were not given any consideration by the government, no policies or anything of that ilk was forth coming. What was pretty amazing and equally poignant is that fact that in spite of such odds, many such people did not resort to the easy way out and start begging. Instead, choose to bear this cross with fortitude and dignity. Not bowing to a life full of pitfalls such that it leaves long lasting scars that are hard to heal, they have instead met fate face on and challenged it with remarkable courage, wisdom and relentless enthusiasm. When nothing else seemed to work, they embraced a glorious fast. When these people went to discuss their problem with Mrs Helen Rober t D’souza, she was very disturbed as she could not bear to see them suffering so much. She said - “There were no visible tears, I could feel the level of despondency and helplessness inside them, which was akin to droplets of blood falling inside their broken hearts.”
Many of the visually challenged started telling her – “Only we are being stopped from hawking, not those with sight. We are striving hard for our secure and reliable living., unfortunately it is become very difficult for us now”
Jobless visually challenged continued their quest of going to Mrs. Helen Robert D’souza and requesting her for assistance as they were aware of her nature and the fact that she too possesses soft, as she was always helping women, children and old people in their acute circumstances.. At this stage she had no clue how to how to help these people and she was in a severe introspective mode. She was in search of a way wherein she could really do something worthwhile for them and not just a flash in a pan attempt. She then requested her friends and few visually challenged to help her to form an NGO. The edge – ‘Where there is a will, there is a way’ had come true and on the 27th of July, 1995 their Ashrayangan ‘Unique Blind Uplift Society’ was born under Public Trust Act 12 A. Soon she got the entire jobless and low income group of visually challenged under the same roof thus making her desire to help them seem like a more concrete reality as compared to a mirage. UBUS soon launched projects which were trendsetters both in its conceptualization and ex*****on providing maximum benefits for its members by executing in a remarkable manner such as, free distribution of food-grains, distribution of new clothes with dress stitching charges to stitch their clothes as per their size & styling. UBUS also provided medical assistance, educational facilities, matrimonial funding, and house repairing expenses, fund to purchase grocery items for hawkers. UBUS conducted programmes to spread awareness of blindness, prevention from eye trouble and awareness of eye donation. UBUS have been organizing national and entertainment events to make our members feel the Joy & Peace. UBUS is the 1st Ngo who initiated 'get-to-gather' programmes and promoted various activities for jobless visually challenged those who live in slums and some work as hawkers in Mumbai City and suburbs. More than 500 Visually challenged in Mumbai earn their livelihood by selling Lottery Tickets, Agarbattis, Toys, Hand Kerchiefs, Plastic Pass Covers etc. Total income of one person does not exceeds Rs. 100 per day . This 100 rupees has to utilized for food, clothing’s, shelter (Rent), maintenance, medical and list is endless. The amount is too small to run a family, how its possible to support the educational requirements of their children.? Number of programmes are existing to support the visually challenged or handicapped persons by various governmental and non governmental organizations but there are no welfare schemes for their needy and deserving children. We are approaching individual and financial institutions , Industrial captains, charitable trusts to support the ‘each one teach one scheme’ for these visually challenged people’s children. With a hope that each one of us can teach one child who will complete his / her education. If we all take this as a serious responsibility then no hurdle will be impossible to overcome. We are also promoting ‘Each one Teach one’ scheme to our needy Hawker’s children. Please donate us financially or in kind to make this scheme success. To attack poverty, let's create self employment opportunities through Co-op. Domestic Industries by way of Micro Credit (loan), and also support Educational Promotions, Medical relief. To support other basic facilities to our needy elderly Blind people, like distribution of food grains, new clothes, House repairing expenses, and other basic requirements for our jobless and low income group of visually challenged those who do not have a shelter in any Ashrams or Hostels , living in slums facing great difficulties. Many of them are most destitute and vulnerable, , irrespective of their cast, creed language and religion. UBUS had initiated activities supporting 50 Blind members later figure increased to 500 in Mumbai city. But that figure is in all likely going to increase by about 50 year on year. UBUS hopefully trying it’s level best to keep continued it’s activities with your kind support. Please look into the matter and do the needful in favour of: Unique Blind Uplift Society. UNIQUE BLIND UPLIFT SOCIETY
SOCIETY REGD. NO: GBBSD/MUMBAY-1995. PUBLIC TRUST NO... F-17717/MUMBAI-1995
