Community Work Report
MitraJyothi is a registered charitable trust formed in 1990 with the objective of Integrating persons with disability into mainstream society. MitraJyothi, believes that all Persons with disability have the potential to become independent and self-sufficient, and given The right opportunities can achieve their goals. Our main area of work is to assist the visually Impaired, but our Placement Cell assists people with all disabilities.The different programs for The visually impaired are Talking Book Library, Independent Living Skills, and Braille Transcription Centre, Job Placement Cell and Computer Training Centre.
We have served approximately 7000 Disabled people since our inception in 1990 directly and indirectly through Our various programs. Founder and Managing Trustee: Ms MadhuSinghal who is visually impaired is the Managing Trustee/Founder of MitraJyothi. She did not let her visual impairment deter her. She passed B.A with 1st division and was selected “The Best All Rounder Student” from Vaish women’s college, Maharishi Dayanad University, Rohtak (Haryana) in 1981.
She continued her M. A in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music in Maharishi Dayanad University and again got a 1st division in 1983. It was after moving to Bangalore she went through various training courses for the visually impaired and learnt Kannada, the local language. She established MitraJyothi in 1990 along with the support of 8 other dedicated individuals. Ms.
MadhuSinghal has received many awards and recognitions personally and for MitraJyothi.She recently received the National Award on Dec 2008 for achievement in working for the cause of people with disabilities. ? VISION OF THE NGO: To inspire and enable the visually impaired. MISSION OF THE NGO: The mission of Mitra Jyothi is to assist the visually impaired adults and their families lead independent and dignified lives through education, training, counselling, communication and technology. HEAD OFFICE: MitraJyothi charitable trust, C. A Site No: P-22,31st Main 18th cross, HSR Layout Sector 1, Behind NIFT (National institute of Fashion Technology), Bangalore-560102 PROGRAMSTalking Book Library: Library has collection of converted Audio Cassettes and CD’s of printed books.
Volunteers help in recording Audio master cassettes and CDs at recording rooms. Library also produces a monthly audio magazine called ‘Sanchaya’. It is established in 1992, the talking book library was started to cater to general reading needs and educational needs of visually impaired students in schools and colleges. The library converts print books into Audio Cassettes and CD’s. Audio master cassettes and CDs are recorded at the recording rooms mostly with the help of volunteers.They record books in fiction, non-fiction and textbooks in various languages are available in the library.
Membership at the library is for a minimal fee and members can borrow books on copies made at the library. The talking book library has helped the visually impaired of all age groups and socio-economic backgrounds through the state and country. The talking book library is a big step for the visually impaired to enable them to attain knowledge and information concerning the world they live in. Mitra Jyothi’s TBL has over 1250 members that include around 30 educational institutions.Other features of the library include ‘Sanchaya’ the monthly audio magazine with over 115 subscribers.
? Computer Training Centre: It is established in 2005 Computer Training Centre provides computer training to the visually impaired and low vision students. Offered programs include basic computer training courses for visually impaired and Teacher Training courses for teachers. Mitra Jyothi’s Computer Training Centre has been providing computer training to the visually impaired and low vision students since 2005. Training programs are in technical collaboration with Enable India.So far, They have given computer training for 117 Visually Impaired people in basic computer and conducted TTC (Teachers Training course) for 64 people. ? Independent Living Skills: It is a residential training program for visually impaired women in the age group of 18 to 35 years.
These women are taught life skills like mobility, home management skills, cooking, hygiene etc. This is an ongoing program and anyone can come join us according to what they would like to get out of the course. ? Braille Transcription Centre:Braille Transcription Centre is used to convert books required by visually impaired students into Braille. The Braille Transcription centre was started in 1999 and converts books required by visually impaired students into Braille. Books are printed at the centre on request basis through the year.
Majority of the books printed in Braille at Mitra Jyothi are textbooks for students. All visually impaired/low vision people can take advantage of the centre. These books are of great help to students especially at the primary level where remembering spellings is a problem and it improves their vocabulary.The Braille books help students to establish a sound foundation in their academics. ? Placement Cell: Established in 1999 Placement Cell helps visually impaired, and also people with other disabilities, find job opportunities according to their skills in various sectors. It also conducts Sensitization programs for both employers and employees.
The placement cell was started in 1999, and is open to both the visually impaired, and people with other disabilities as well. We have placed more than 600 candidates with disabilities.Sensitization programs for both employers & employees are conducted through the year. The job placement cell helps find job opportunities according to their skills in various sectors. There is no age bar.
It is open for both qualified and nonqualified disabled people. Walk in, get registered under the placement cell with free of cost and look for a better future. LOW VISION AIDS/ APPLICANCES: Low vision aids and appliances received from UK are being utilized by the students. There are different types of equipments, which help low vision people to read books in large print format.The equipments were donated by one of the well wishers from UK. 10 students have benefited by this facility this year.
? AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS: Mitra Jyothi received the State Award from Chief Minister Sri. Yeddyurappa, for its Special service for persons with disabilities on World Disability Day 3rd December 2010. AWARDS CONFERED ON MS ?National Award on December 2008 for achievement in working for the cause of people with disabilities ?”SaduruGnanananda Award 2011″ in the category -Woman Social Entrepreneur Awarded the IBN7 Bajaj Allianz Super Idols Award in recognition of the extraordinary work in the field of education for persons with visual impairment. She was felicitated by Mr. Salman Khan in Mumbai in November 2010.
? Trustees The board of Mitra Jyothi is a legal representative of the organization. Primarily, it is involved in guiding, directing, and giving policies, monitoring the activities of the organization. The board meets thrice a year. 1. Mr.
G. P. Goyal Mr. Goyal is the President and Founder of Mitra Jyothi.He is a businessperson and philanthropist in Bangalore. He has been involved with Mitra Jyothi from the day of its inception.
Mr. Goyal is supporting Mitra Jyothi with networking, references and helping in getting funds for Mitra Jyothi’s activities 2. Ms Madhu Singhal who is visually impaired is the Managing Trustee/Founder of Mitra Jyothi. She did not let her visual impairment deter her. She passed B. A with 1st division and was selected “The Best All Rounder Student” from Vaish women’s college, Maharishi Dayanad University, Rohtak (Haryana) in 1981.
She continued her M.A in Hindustani Classical Vocal Music in Maharishi Dayanand University and again got a 1st division in 1983. It was after moving to Bangalore she went through various training courses for the visually impaired and learnt Kannada, the local language. She established Mitra Jyothi in 1990 along with the support of 8 other dedicated individuals. Ms. Madhu Singhal has recieved many awards and recognitions personally and for Mitra Jyothi.
She recently received the National Award on Dec 2008 for achievement in working for the cause of people with disabilities 3. Mr. Piyush Khaithan Mr.Khaitan is an entrepreneur and a successful businessman based in Mumbai. He has set up large technology based businesses, and is also recognized as an industry expert in the area of payment systems and transaction automation. He is a graduate from Mumbai University and has done the SMEP program at IIM Ahmedabad.
In 2012 he was elected to the ‘Hall of Fame’ by his alma mater, St. Xaviers’s Boys’ Academy’s past students association. 4. Mr. Ramana Polavarapu Mr. Ramana is a Research Scientist in Amazon. Though he is a visually impaired person, his contribution has spread across the continents.He has been a pillar of strength in setting up our Advance computer-training lab in Mitra Jyothi 5. Mrs. Rekha Dass Mrs. Rekha Dass is a social worker, and because of her continues support in our talking book library, we are able to have many books in Hindi and English.
She has been there in our journey from the beginning and then joined as a trustee member 6. Mrs. Kanika Khaithan Mrs. Khaitan has completed her Post-Graduate diploma program in counseling from SIES College, Mumbai, and manages the S. Mumbai center for Anchorage, an NGO working for adults with mental disabilities.Here she provides counseling, occupational therapy, activity scheduling and rehabilitation activities besides overall coordination and supervision of the center.
Before relocating to Mumbai, she was attached to the Spastics Society of Karnataka and participated in various activities of this organization. At Mitra Jyothi, he helps define our vision and gives direction to several long term initiatives. An example is the setting up of our present facility, the Sri Kusum Kumar Khaitan Center, which has helped us considerably expand our activities in the last 4 years.He is now actively involved in our plans to build our second home in Bangalore which should take shape in the coming years. As a trustee of Mitra Jyothi, she keeps close track of our activities, and provides valuable suggestions and inputs based on her specialized skills and experience. She has also been instrumental in our fund raising activities, and arranging for large donations for Mitra Jyothi from family funds as well as soliciting donations from external sources.
7. Dr. Sharan Dr. Sharan is a well know Neurologist and he is associated with Mitra Jyothi. His mother Smt.
Amrutha Srinivasan has been a regular volunteer in talking book library and brought out many issues of ‘Sanchaya Magazine’. Dr. Sharan has introduced renowned people like Mr. Vijay Amrithraj to Mitra Jyothi ? CHAPTER-2 STRUCTURE OF THE ORGANISATION ? REPORTING STRUCTURE OF MITRA JYOTHI: Names ; Designation: ?Ms. Madhu Singhal-Managing Trustee ?AP Singh-CEO ?Ms. Gabrena-Accountant ?Mr.
Javeed-Placement officer ?Anusuya Das-Chief Co-ordinator for digital talking book library ?L. N. Reddy-Manager for Library and digital talking book library ?Ms. Dhanya-Co-ordinator of Organization ?Vinodh Kumar-Assistant librarian Klapana-Assistant librarian ?Kavitha – Assistant librarian for Braile ?Rashmi-Assistant Librarian ?Narasimha Murthy-Assistant clerk and Librarian ?Surya kanth-Head of computer Dept. ?Tony Thomas-Corporate Executive and Advanced computer Trainer ?Syed Mansoor-Assistant and Basic Computer Trainer ?Sachin-system Analyst ?Mrs. Sundari-Trainer of Independent Living Skills, and also incharge of home science management ?Ms.
Mamta-Craft Teacher Chapter-3 Day wise report 25th February-day 1. This is the first day of our Community Work, We were given detailed information about Mitra Jyothi .All the team members were addressed by C. E. O of the mitra jyothi Major A.
P. singh who Introduced Ms Madhu Singhal the founder and the managing trustee of the trust. They told Exactly what to do, All the students were assigned different jobs in various fields, Activities That day we are impressed by knowing about the Mitra Jyothi , co-ordinator of the trust divided us into teams and my team was assigned to pack the cassettes and shift the cassettes from 1st floor to ground floor, these cassettes where not of any use to the students because Now the students are using CD .This enables them to copy all the topics of one subject in a single CD which was not possible in case of cassettes. That is why all the cassettes were planned to dispose and shifted to ground floor, Today’s learning: I learnt the values of blind people and we observed that how the organization Functions and we saw that how the blind people use the computer to learn, to read and write.
Some people were doing the craft work. Each and every faculty was sincere in their work, they Operate the computer faster than us, they study by using Braille language and by hearingThe audios regarding to a particular subject. ? 26th February- day . 2 Objectives: To complete the task assigned for the day Activities The task was challenging, all the members in the group worked with great dedication, All the cassettes were shifted to ground floor, it was shifted and arranged in a manner, They were in huge number so all of us tried to carry the cassettes as much as possible. Today’s learning: I learned how to arrange the cassettes in a proper manner in raks, and how to be Helpful for others.
How to share the work and how quickly to do the work. ? 7th February-day 3. Objectives of the day To complete the task assigned for the day Activities The day activity was good, I had assigned a task of text editing, this will enable the People to read it easily as it is edited and converted into a proper sentences and Deleting the extra lines and copied lines. Today’s learning: This day I learned how to do text editing and what are all difficulties faced while Doing the work, text editing is done to correct the scanned text and that text will be Printed in Braille language and it would be helpful for the visually impaired students. 8th February-day 4. Objectives To complete the task assigned for the day Activities This day I did text editing and then I was assigned to do scanning also I did Structuring and helped the other students in completing structuring.
Today’s learning: I learned how to do work effectively and quickly, scanning the text books, novels And general knowledge books to convert it into Braille and into audios with the help Of structuring. ? 1st march –day 5. Objectives To complete the task assigned for the day ActivitiesThe task started with text editing, then after doing structuring we were taken to Computer training centre there we learnt how the blind people will operate the Computers with the help of key board . for the visually impaired people the trainees teach all the short cut keys in the key board itself, then the blind people will type and Computer will read out whatever they type. This is what we learnt on that day Today’s learning: I learned how to do structuring and how to behave with visually impaired people.
And what to learn from them, they are highly sensitive and there memory power isGood and more active then common man. ? 2nd march-day 6. Objectives To complete the task assigned for the day Activities The day activity was to do text editing and structuring, the books which were Translated by us was recorded by the other volunteers. I had also involved in audio Editing this is the final step of CD conversion. the mistakes which were done during the time of recording were corrected at the time of audio editing Today’s Learning: I learned that how to edit text and also audio after recording by the volunteers, by earing to the audio recorded by them and deleting the words or sentences which are mis-spelled and which is not clear. 4th march-day 7.
Objectives To complete the task assigned for the day and attend the work shop. Activities The first day of work shop was conducted by sundari madam , she is the incharge of home science department, the days activity was all about the independent living skills she gave many examples and explained how the blind people can lead the life with out any bodies help . many practical illustrations were also done , we were covered ur eyes with blind fold in order to experience the feel and touch of blindness Today’s Learning: I learned that what are all the difficulties were facing by visually impaired people and how they interact with people. ? 5th march-day 8. Objectives To complete the task assigned for the day and attend the work shop Activities In this day Major A.
P singh mainly focused on Defence, he explained ever thing about army in detail the main reason of telling this was to create self confidence among the people who were present in the auditorium. He explained the position and esignations of the army persons Today’s Learning: I learned about the Indian army and practical experience in home science lab. ? 6th march-day 9. Objective To complete the task assigned for the day and attend the work shop Activities The Workshop was again conducted by Sundari madam , on this day we had an great experience , The main idea of this day was to teach the kitchen skills to the blind people , There was an practical orientation in which both sighted people where asked to cover there eyes with blind fold to identify the dal, pepper, jeera etc .This was mainly done to realise how the blinds will identify by touching and also Practically experienced in home science lab by using blind fold. Today’s Learning: On this day i learned how to create self confidence in visually impaired people.
And what are all difficulties they are facing while learning and doing the work in home science lab and it is a part of independent living skills. ? 7th march-day 10. Objectives To complete the task assigned for the day and attend the work shop Activities The workshop was conducted by maran . e came to teach the social ethicates to the people who were present in the auditorium. He thought how blind peoples can eat, dress way of sitting and table manners etc, he also thought how the people must behave in hospitals ,restaurants etc and the afternoon session was conducted by sundari madam .
in this she thought how the blind people will use kitchen for cooking . She did a small exercise in which all the sighted peoples were given the blind fold and ask to cut the vegetables . i had also involved in the task and this was the great task.Then we were assigned to teach the blind peoples how to cut the vegetables, and mr Maran clearly explains how to behave when we are in the conference and how to sit and stand infront of elders and in any conferences. ? Today’s Learning: I learned that how to teach visually impaired to eat in a proper way and how to use the table and how to maintain the table manners and how to sit in a dinning table and how to eat and how to dress, what are the formal and informal dress codes. 8th march-day 11.
ObjectivesTo complete the task assigned for the day and attend the work shop Activities The starting of the day I had involved in text editing this was the completion day of Text editing. Till date I had edited 3 to 4 books. I had enjoyed a lot when I was editing, I was greatly supported by the staffs of talking book library. Then in the afternoon DR Anand conducted the work shop he explained about the low vision. This day was the most learning day, he had also made an practical session, he had brought many low vision glasses like Central loss vision , Low vision, cataract glasses etc .He divided the group in to a small group of two and he gave different glasses to sighted people to experience the low vision criteria Today’s Learning: I came to know the types of low vision and what are the difficulties faced by the people who is suffering from low vision and we also experienced the types of low vision by wearning the different glasses given by DR Anand that is the time where we really felt the problems facing by them its hard to live independently March 9th_day 12.
ObjectivesTo complete the task assigned for the day and attend the work shop Activities Many informations was given by the expert regarding the awareness, diseases and its effects etc. Then as it was the last day we took pictures with all the staffs of mitra jyothi. Then we had lunch with all the students and staffs and enjoyed the last day Today’s Learning: We came to know about the awareness of aids and other diseases and they thought us how to maintain health and what are the precautions to take and do’s and dont’s. ?With all the staff of mitra jyothi and people who came for work shop from Maharashtra and students of CMR Institute Of Management Studies. CHAPTER-4 Conclusion: This was the great and memorable experience we had in those 12 days .
we came to know the difficulties of visually impaired’s life , I sincerely thank my college for giving me the wonderful opportunity to work in that organisation. I also thank all my staff of mitra jyothi who rendered great support during our stay in there trust and they thought us how to work in an organisation and how to behave with visually impaired.And also experienced home science lab by waring blind fold and DR anand showed how low vision effects like and finally we learned what are all the difficulties they are facing and how to over come that by using the following skills. *independent living skills *mobilization skills *home science skills *computer skills ? CHAPTER-5 Bibliography: ?www. mitrajyothi.
com ?Staff of mitra jyothi trust ?Broucher of mitra jyothi
