From Education to Employment: The Uphill Battle for Blind Students
Vaishali Gopnarayan, a twenty-two-year-old from a small village in Akola, Maharashtra, was born with low vision due to a genetic condition that also affected her mother and brother. Her father, a daily wage laborer, struggled to provide for the family, limiting Vaishali’s access to education.
Despite the challenges, Vaishali attended a special school for the blind, mastering Braille and essential mobility skills. However, the lack of advanced educational opportunities in her district prompted a bold decision—she moved to Mumbai to pursue higher education.
In Mumbai, Vaishali relied on her disability pension and scholarships to fund her studies. She enrolled in Wilson College for Class XI and XII, securing free hostel accommodation under the disability quota. Later, she graduated from Mumbai University, again benefiting from government-provided hostel facilities. Alongside her studies, Vaishali pursued the Maharashtra State Certificate in Information Technology (MSCIT) at the Victoria Memorial School for the Blind, gaining essential computer skills for government jobs.
At VMSB, an Eyeway Helpdesk counselor introduced Vaishali to opportunities for people with vision impairment, helping her navigate employment options and government schemes. After graduation, Vaishali enrolled in an MA program but faced challenges when her name didn’t appear on the hostel accommodation list. Forced to rent a paying guest room, the financial burden became overwhelming, especially after her father’s passing. Returning to Akola would mean abandoning her dreams of independence.
Eyeway stepped in to help, securing temporary free accommodation at a private hostel run by the Blind Progressive Welfare Foundation. The team is now advocating with the State Social Welfare Department to secure government hostel accommodation for Vaishali, enabling her to complete her education and prepare for competitive exams for government jobs.
For students like Vaishali, schemes and accommodations such as these are not just a support system but a lifeline. Without them, the financial constraints of their families would make it nearly impossible to pursue education or employment dreams.
Team Eyeway