Service to Humanity is service to God is the guiding spirit behind Shree Ramana Maharishi Academy for the Blind (SRMAB), a voluntary organization working with people with various disabilities and the socially deprived. The Academy strives to breakdown the social barriers and provides opportunities for disabled people to integrate into societal mainstream as self-reliant members. Hard work, commitment and single-minded devotion to the cause have contributed to the growth of SRMAB. Its multifaceted activities provide services in the field of health, education and socioeconomic rehabilitation to people from semi-urban and rural areas.

 

 

The starting point goes back to 1968, when a group of friends set off for Sri Ramanashramam at Thiruvannamalai Tamil Nadu seeking self-realization. The group was lead by 26 yr. Old T.V.Srinivasan and the youngest was 17 year old Thirumurthy who expressed doubts on the purpose of self-actualization and instead he advocated working for a social cause. Inspired by Thirumurthy, Srinivasan resigned his job and got trained in teaching blind people.

 

On his return, he started a school for the blind, functioning in a small room at his house, with a single student land a donation of Rs.60\- on 18th June 1969. Today, the Academy has five branches covering different activities, and more than 3500 people have benefited from its 25 years of existence.

 

There was a pall of gloom when Thirumurthy met with an accident and passed away on 19th June 1977, at a young age of 27 years. The mantle of leadership now fell upon T.V.Srinivasan, who with committed leadership and dynamic support of a team of youngsters, has built up a highly motivated institution.

 

 

 

 

 

Sourabha : Community Based Rehabilitation ( CBR) Programme of Kanakapura Unit of SRMAB

 

Widening its horizons, SRMAB took a major decision to expand its services to the persons with disability from rural areas, by effectively spreading the message of CBR through multi-pronged programmes. Named Sourabha, this project was initiated in 1990- with the help of ACTIONAID India.

 

Located 60 kms from Bangalore, Sourabha, provides services to more than 4500 disabled people in 150 villages of Kanakapura Taluk in Bangalore Rural District. Sourabha aims at rehabilitation of disabled persons in the rural areas and to empower their social and economic rights in the societal mainstream.

 

Interventions are provided through:

 

 

Health and Medical rehabilitation.

 

 

 

Education:

 

 

Awareness:

 

Economic rehabilitation

 

 

 

Community organization

 

 

Sourabha has gained the confidence of the local population who extend all support and co-operation in working towards the goal of rehabilitation of the disabled people.

 

 

THIRUMURTHY RURAL DEVELOPMENT CENTER:

AN AGRO BASED TRAINING CENTER FOR THE RURAL DISABLED

 

Situated 48 kms from Bangalore in Kanakapura Taluk of Bangalore Rural District, TRDC provides training and non-formal education to disabled persons from rural areas. Situated in lush green surroundings, spread over 19 acres of land, this well planned unit has a residential set up to house the trainees during the 2 years of training.

 

Agro based training programmes generate income and instill self reliance among people with disability

 

The agro –based training programmes are:

Agriculture, horticulture, Sericulrute, Dairy Farming, Poultry, Silk Weaving, Fish Culture, Tailoring Bee Keeping, and Carpentry.

 

After training, a disabled individual is equipped to build a future which will given him a steady income and enable him to be self-reliant. Annually 45 trainees pass out from TRDC.

 

Admissions are open to male disabled adults of the age group between 14- 40 years during May each year.

 

 

GRAMARAKSHE -- a Development project of Kodihalli

 

Gramarakshe is a development project of Kodihalli Hobli, initiated during 1994 to empower the rural poor. At present, the project caters to 201 families identified as the prooerst of the poor. Twenty-four full time trained staff work with people in 8 villages under the concept of people oriented development.

 

The project promotes training and transfer of skills in farming technology through the chief of the family, increases the family income with income generating programmes and saving schemes with women in the family, supports these families for better health, education and group organization among people living below poverty line.

 

The activities undertaken are: -

 

 

Community Development and Environment: Social forestry, fruit tree plantation, kitchen gardening, watershed management, housing and sanitation, rural infrastructure building, awareness building programmes related to development, health, education and environment.

The Project is sponsored by International Training Programme, U.K, under joint funding scheme of ODA.

 

 

Soulabya

 

The Educational and Training Institution of Shree Ramana Maharishi Academy for the Blind.

 

Soulabya aims at rehabilitation of visually impaired children from rural and semi-urban areas, by providing them free education and vocational training from nursery to class X with English mediu. Two separate hostels for girls and boys have 300 visually impaired children from Karnataka and neighbouring states.

 

The vocational training programmes are interesting and comprise of:

 

 

 

Earn while you learn: A dairy acts as a good classroom

 

Earn while you learn is a scheme that generates enthusiasm and motivation under the vocational rehabilitation Programme, where the student earns some money as he learns the trade. A certain percentage of the earnings from the sale of boxes, milk and saplings grown by the children are deposited in their savings accounts. On graduating from the Academy, most of them earn enough finances to continue their studies or to set up a small enterprise with some aid.

 

Soulabya lays emphasis on cultural and extra curricular activities:

 

 

The Academy’s dance troupe has performed in major towns and cities of India and abroad. Prizes and medals have been regularly won at state and national level sports meets for the disabled people.

 

Free Admissions are open to visually impaired boys and girls in the age group of 4-22 years.

 

 

Appeal get involved with us:

 

 

 

Recommend our Academy to a person/organization who/which can help us in our future endeavors

 

 

 

 

 

 

Networking: The Academy works closely with several organizations and groups locally, Nationally and Internationally with the objective of sharing experience and dissemination of information. An endeavor is also made to project the courageous determination and versatility displayed by the disabled people through their participation in art, culture, music and sports.

 

Appeal

 

Charity and compassion are not what disabled people want to evoke. They want organizations and individuals to recognize their abilities and strengths. Co-operation and collaboration are needed to strengthen schemes and programmes for disabled people. Organizations or individuals that wish to support any of the programmes through voluntary help, professional services or monitory contributions may contact:

 

Shree Ramana Maharishi Academy for the Blind (Regd)

Recognized by the Government of India

3rd Cross, 3rd Phase, ( Near Ragi Gudda), J.P.Nagar

Bangalore-560078

India

 

PHONE: +91 80 6631076 FAX: +91 80 6638045

 

Email: srmab@blr.vsnl.net.in