110 Blind Girls In Bihar Can Hope To Fulfill Their Dreams Thanks To The Tireless Efforts Of Ramesh Prasad

Hundreds of visually impaired girls in Bihar, Jharkhand, and surrounding areas have found a new purpose in life. They have left behind their life of desperation and suffering and are pursuing their dreams. This remarkable feat is the result of over 30 years of hard work and determination by the founders of Antarjyoti Balika Vidyalaya under the aegis of Bihar Netraheen Parishad.   

Rupa* was born with visual impairment but that didn’t stop her from dreaming. She wanted to go to school and get a job. But her small village in Bihar had no special schools for the blind. When she finally got admitted to Antarjyoti Balika Vidyalaya she found new hope. With dedicated teachers taking care of her needs and encouraging her to fulfill her dreams, Rupa has now become a confident young woman. Countless girls like Rupa are waiting to find their path - this school in Bihar is on a mission to help them. 

It’s time we look beyond their disabilities and give them a fair chance

Ramesh Prasad, the founder of Antarjyoti Balika Vidyalaya and Secretary of Bihar Netraheen Parishad, is also visually impaired and knows the struggles that a disabled individual has to face even in this day and age. He works day and night to create a learning atmosphere for the 110 girls in the Vidyalaya. He wants them to chase their dreams and follow their hearts. 

“Once a child is born with disabilities, be it any kind, the first thought that crosses the minds of the family is that of their survival. The situation is worse if it’s a girl child. Families who don’t even earn more than a thousand rupees struggle to give these girls a better life. More often than not, they’re abandoned, forced to look after themselves. 30 years ago, when I started this school, there was not a single school that catered to the needs of girls with visual impairments. Parents were scared to send them to co-ed institutions and as a result, these girls lived a life of despair,” - Ramesh Prasad.   

A man of strong will, Ramesh was determined to change that, and over the years, Antarjyoti Balika Vidyalaya was able to impact 1500+ lives. This wasn’t an easy job considering the organisation solely depends on donations from kind souls. The 110 girls are given proper food, medical care, and education completely free of cost. They’re also taught computers, and dance lessons, encouraged to learn life skills and take up vocational training. The school aims to prepare them for facing the world and give them their rightful place in society. 

These girls are scaling great heights - help many more like them 

Ramesh Prasad beams with pride when he says over 25 girls from the school have gotten into good jobs - some are working in banks, some are doing government jobs and others are revered professors at colleges. Many of them have also gone into higher education - pursuing their M.Phil, Ph.D., and B.Ed. Ramesh believes that they deserve all this and much more but this 30-year-old organisation is struggling to continue with its day-to-day expenses. 

“We want to expand the building and take in many more girls in need. Most of these girls come from very poor families and are in no condition to pay school fees. But that doesn’t mean that they should be denied opportunities. I request you all to help us with construction materials, hygiene products, Braille paper and groceries. Even a small donation will make a big difference in their lives.”  

*- name changed to maintain confidentiality

About the NGO: Together with other like-minded people, who wanted to uplift and empower the visually-challenged community and fight for their rights, Ramesh Prasad founded Antarjyoti Balika Vidyalaya in 1993. This school in Patna is now home to 110 visually-impaired girls who are working hard to pursue their dreams. They’re given proper food, medical care, and education completely free of cost. They’re also taught computers, and dance lessons, encouraged to learn life skills and take up vocational training. The school aims to prepare them for facing the world and give them their rightful place in society.