Computers and the blind

"I seek your help in spreading the word to all 8.8 million blind people in India that nothing can be more enabling, empowering and liberating as computer literacy can be, for the blind,” said Tanya Balsara, at the 13th convocation ceremony of Tanya Computer Centre, on February 23, 2020 in Bombay. Balsara, who founded the Centre, is herself blind and has personally taught 250 visually impaired persons, making them computer literate. Most of these students have got jobs in the public sector.
Balsara requested all those present to introduce at least one blind person to computer education as she has personally experienced the difference computer literacy made in her life. Her vision is to see all blind Indians become computer literate. This would add tremendously to the country’s gross domestic product and help achieve the Prime Minister’s dream of making India a five trillion dollar economy. If the government could help set up just 880 computer centers, with a capacity of 20 seats each, then 50% of the 8.8 million blind persons would be covered in 12-and-a-half years, she elaborated. Estimating that each center would cost Rs 20,00,000 to set up and Rs 7,00,000 per year to run, the total cost would work out to Rs 124 crore per year. "In other words, with just Rs 1,550 crore spent over this period, half the blind population would be able to enter India’s work force. I hope to make a proposal to the human resource development ministry and I am sure with your good wishes, the government should take serious interest in executing it,” Balsara appealed.

Tanya Computer Centre, which until recently operated from only one location, now has five centers. Four of them opened last year in Gujarat: one each in Ahmedabad; Sayla village, Saurashtra; Kapadwanj, Khera; and Dessa, Banaskantha, thanks to the Centre’s association with Blind Peoples Association, Ahmedabad. Three additional centers are expected to come up in Jodhpur, Valsad and another one in South Bombay, the last two thanks to the benevolence of Sir Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Trust.
Dr Sam Taraporevala, the blind executive director of Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged, was guest of honor at the convocation. He said, "I do not believe that in today’s India, with the benefit of computer literacy, any blind person should consider himself at a disadvantage compared to the sighted.” His message for the blind was: "Do not consider yourself to be a VIP — Visually Impaired Person,” and said that the best nation in the world is determination!
Tanya’s father Sam Balsara, chairman, Madison World, said, "We are delighted to have adopted the cause of computer literacy for the blind in India. Seeing the change that Tanya went through after becoming computer literate and the change in her students, I am convinced that this is the most liberating and beneficial act that anyone and the government can do for the blind.”
Tanya Computer Centre is supported by Madison Resource Foundation the CSR (corporate social responsibility) unit of Madison World, India’s largest homegrown communications company. It offers free computer education to all blind persons. Access to corporate funding through Madison Resource Foundation has enabled it to expand and thereby make computer education accessible to more persons. For more information, contact Enid D’Souza, tel: 08879556946.