Abin from Kerala is bogged down by the multiple challenges he is facing to be independent. He needs strong counsel and support to continue from where he is now. He was born blind to a lower middle-class family in Kozhikode, Kerala. Abin’s father and brother both work as pipeline workers in the municipality. With the support of his family and friends, he has surmounted majority of the challenges of visual impairment. Abin’s self-confidence helped him complete his schooling and college. He is a post graduate in Sociology and also holds a B.Ed degree.
Having completed his education in 2016, Abin realised the need for financial independence at this point in his life. He no longer wanted to be dependent on his family and felt that his education would help him with employment. He enrolled himself to train for government exams in 2017. He worked hard towards his goal during that year, training and preparing for various exams. He appeared for Lower Division Clerk (LDC) exam in the same year and successfully cleared it but with this his challenges also started to unravel. After being listed for recruitment he was disqualified citing his blindness as a drawback for the position. This upset his plans of getting a job on one hand and on the other, he felt discriminated. This left him depressed and desperate for a reversal of fortunes. But without losing heart, he kept on with his preparations. He completed his coaching during this time and joined a computer course to upgrade his skills. It was from his computer trainer that he came to know about Eyeway for the first time and he decided to immediately contact the Helpdesk for assistance.
He shared his innermost concerns on employment, finances, exams and his lost opportunities. The counselor gave a patient hearing to Abin, understanding the discrimination he had faced at the hands of Public Service Commission authorities by disqualifying him. Taking Eyeway’s counselor’s advice, Abin filed an official complaint with the PSC office in Kozhikode but the authorities denied all allegations. He was then suggested to follow a legal recourse but Abin desisted.
So the counselor thought it apt to direct him more towards looking ahead and seeking newer opportunities. Abin was asked to continue his preparations for government exams since he has age on his side. As another immediate solution, he was informed about self-employment options under the Mudra scheme. The counselor told Abin that he could apply for a loan to start a business of his own. The counselor further guided him with creating a proper business plan mentioning the required infrastructure, equipment, budget etc. Eyeway Counselor also suggested Abin to start Akshaya Centre (a public service office) or a DTP (Desktop Publishing) centre. Abin has wholeheartedly taken the advice already applied for the loan. He has completed the initial procedures and is waiting to get his loan finalised. He is grateful for the counselor’s timely advice and looks forward to making it count.