Though blind, Ranita shows light to other children of lesser gods
Source: Hueiyen News Service / JNN
Jiribam, June 30 2014:
A number of differently able persons (disable persons) may be fighting for their daily existence in every nook and corner of the society without any assistance from the government.
But there is a gutsy lady, whose blindness has not deterred her courage in not only earning her livelihood, but also guiding other colleagues in securing self employment.
The life and works of blind lady Ranita from Lakhipur in Jiribam has revealed the fact as she has been earning livelihood by doing various activities such as making soaps from the Aloe-vera plants planted at the small premises of her residence, making doormats and ropes from coconut, and preparing manure from dry cow-dung.
Her husband, also a blind, has been contributing to the family income by making stools.
Sometime back, Ranita's family spearheaded in forming an organisation called the Handicap Rehabilitation Organisation (HRO), Jiribam which is providing guidance to another 28 disabled persons of the area.
Collaborating with a number of helpless widows in making Kabok Mori (an indigenous eatable), weaving clothes, and embroidery, the rehabilitation organisation has been helping them to take up self-employment activities.
The irony is that the said organisation has been running without any support from the government side since its establishment, Ranita said in an interaction with the JNN.
In the beginning, the products of the organisation did not garner public demands as they were not well recognised, but today their demands have increased in the market, Ranita said, adding that the sale of the products is no more a difficult work for them today.
In reply to a query, Ranita boldly said that the reason for non-acceptance of funds from the government is to demonstrate that handicapped persons are also able to work and earn their living at par with normal individuals.