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Brief History 2011 To understand and appreciate NAB it becomes necessary to view the organization's accomplishments since January 19, 1952 - the birth of NAB - till date. Since its inception, every year has been a forward leap in the organization’s reach and welfare provisions made for the blind. January 19, 1952 saw the flowering of the seed sown by Mangulal Jethalal Shah, way back in 1947. Mr. B. G. Kher, the then Premier of Bombay Province moved a resolution at the first all India Conference for the Blind held in Bombay, which led to the establishment of the National Association for the Blind. Six weeks later, with an Executive Council of just 19 members and the support of workers and sympathizers of the blind, Barrister Rustom Merwanji Alpaiwalla was appointed the first President of NAB. Then began the mission of these determined people in establishing NAB as an icon of unlimited services for the blind. Milestones 1952 'Tamaso Ma Jyotirgamaya’ (from darkness lead unto light) emerged as the guiding principle that was never to be forgotten but was to become an omnipresent philosophy on which all NAB facilities and strategies were to be formulated. 1953 NAB was Registered under the Bombay Public Trusts Act, 1950. [Registration No.E 221 (B)]. 1954 NAB pioneers Employment and Placement Service for the blind in India by appointing an Employment and Placement Officer. NAB was Registered under the Societies' Registration Act XXI, 1860. (Reg. No.3071). The World Council for the Welfare of the Blind (WCWB) accepted NAB as its accredited Member representing India with membership of six delegates. Barrister R. M. Alpaiwalla was appointed Vice President of WCWB.
1956 NAB Established the Finance Raising Committee (FRC) under the Chairmanship of Mrs. Queenie H. C. Captain to raise funds for the growing activities of NAB. NAB established the M. N. Banaji Industrial Home for the Blind at "Chateau Dieu", a bungalow with two-acre surrounding plot donated by Bai Serenbai Muncherjee Nowroojee Banajee, in Jogeshwari, Mumbai. 1958 NAB initiated Integrated Education for the first time in India. Mrs. Rehmut Sultan Fazelbhoy , Executive Council Member of NAB was successful in convincing New Activity School, Bombay to admit three blind students. Mr. Suresh Chandra Ahuja (blind) was appointed the first Executive Officer of NAB. He later became the Executive Director of the organization. NAB started the first ever Braille Production unit in India in the NGO sector, which was later designated Regional Braille Press for the Western Region, by the Government of India. "Bapuji ki Jhankian" – a life sketch of Mahatma Gandhi by Kakasaheb Kalelkar - was the first book published by the Braille Press. 1959 NAB published the first issue of "Blind Welfare" in under the editorship of Mrs. Rehmut Sultan Fazelbhoy. The publishing of this issue coincided with the Second All India Conference for the Blind which concluded with an important resolution on blindness prevention, thereby bringing into existence the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness.
1961 NAB set up the first Home-Teaching Service for adults and children by appointing a Home Teacher cum Social Case Worker. 1963 1967 The NAB Pheroze and Noshir Merwanji Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind, Mt. Abu, Rajasthan was started to address the comprehensive rehabilitation training needs of newly blind adults. 1969 NAB Mata Lachmi Nursery for the Blind - the first of its kind service in India catering to the needs of pre-school blind children, was launched by NAB. 1970 The NAB Lions Home for Aging Blind was established at Lonavla, Maharashtra to care for the elderly blind. Mr. K. R. Sudder and Mr. D. C. Nazir donated to NAB a plot of land and a spacious bungalow, respectively to initiate this project. 1971 The Hadley School which offered distance education courses to blind Indian students strengthened this service by establishing the NAB-Hadley Service. 1973 The Rustom Merwanji Alpaiwalla Memorial Awards were instituted in the memory of the founder President of NAB Barrister R. M. Alpaiwalla. 1974 By appointing a Mobility Officer, NAB initiated Orientation & Mobility Training in schools and institutions for the blind. 1975 The NAB Louis Braille Memorial Research Centre - a unit exclusively dedicated to study and research in the field of blindness was established. 1977 NAB launches it Silver Jubilee celebrations by organizing the Third All India Conference on Work for the Blind. 1978 NAB Revenue Unit was established in collaboration with the Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind (now Sight Savers International) to augment funds for welfare activities. NAB Kaka Patil Centre for the Blind – a non-residential training centre was started at a bungalow gifted by Mr. P. A. Patil and his family, in Andheri (Mumbai). NAB initiated the Vending Stand Programme to help blind persons start on small business. NAB Department of Rehabilitation was set up to take care of the special needs of blind adults who lose their sight later in life. The department also conducted training in Orientation & Mobility for professionals and in other allied areas. 1980 NAB Department of Education was set up with the appointment of Mr. M. K. Choudhary as the first Education Officer on the staff of NAB. 1981 NAB Bureau of Self-Employment was started to accelerate the pace of placement of the blind. To promote rehabilitation, education, training, employment and economic growth of blind women the NAB Committee for Advancement of the Status of Blind Women was constituted. With a view to promote welfare of the rural blind population the NAB Rural Activities Committee was formed.
1986 A Tactile Map Unit was started as a part of the NAB Sir J. Duggan Braille Press. 1987 The NAB Amarsons Museum – displaying aids and equipment used by the blind – was opened under the aegis of NAB Louis Braille Memorial Research Centre. 1988 The NAB Committee for Advancement of the Status of Blind Women set up the Utkarsh Job Development Centre which offers training and employment opportunities for blind women on "earn while you learn" basis. 1992 NAB constituted the Service Delivery Programs Committee. 1994 The Service Delivery Programs Committee established the NAB Client Service Department for providing timely help in resolving personal problems relating to education, training, employment and other day-to-day issues in the lives of blind persons. 1995 NAB Department of Education initiated a Home-based Service Programme for Visually Impaired Children with Additional Disabilities. 1996 NAB sets up Centre for Service to People with Low Vision. 2000 NAB started Training Centre for Teachers of the Visually Handicapped. 2002 NAB collaborates with Microsoft Corporation USA to set up the first ever Cyber Café for the Blind, at its head quarters in Mumbai. 2003 NAB sets up the Sabita & Saradindu Basu Centre for Blind Women in Delhi. 2005 NAB opens in Nashik the Dr. M. S. Modak Centre for Rehabilitation of the Blind. 2006 NAB started the Smt. Vatsala Joshi & Smt. Damayanti Joshi Hostel for Blind Women, with a generous donation received from Ms. Vatsala Joshi and Ms. Damayanti Joshi. 2007 NAB in collaboration with Tata Indicom opens at its head office a special Call Centre - "Drishti". 2008 NAB establishes a Sports and Cultural Centre for the Blind. |
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