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August - December 2020

We, at the Blind Relief Association, are coping as best we can in the 'new normal' caused by COVID-19, and in a wink, we've already approached the end of the year! Certainly, 2020 has been a rollercoaster ride with unexpected ups and downs. Thank you for standing by us through all of it. As we look back at the year that's gone by, we are grateful for every good thing and continue to appreciate the love and support we have received from each one of you, particularly in this year. 
Gone too soon!
Krishna's face was so common on our social media platforms, and there was not a music event in B.R.A. without his song. It's extremely upsetting to accept that we will never see him or hear his voice again. Krishna Madan, Class X student of JPM School most unexpectedly passed away on 10 August 2020. Read More

इस वर्ष जन्माष्टमी के अवसर पर छात्रों द्वारा दो दिवसीय रामचरितमानस अखण्ड पाठ और कृष्ण जन्मोत्सव का कार्यक्रम कोरोना 19 महामारी के चलते संभव न हो सका। सांकेतिक रूप से प्रस्तावित सुन्दरकाण्ड का कार्यक्रम भी दसवीं कक्षा के छात्र कृष्णा और भूतपूर्व छात्र हर्षवर्धन सिंह नेगी (1991) आकस्मिक निधन के कारण रद्द करना पड़ा। इसके स्थान पर ऑनलाइन शान्ति सभा हुई जिसमें कृष्णा और नेगी जी को श्रद्धांजलि दी गई जिसमें  कृष्णा की माताश्री  भी उपस्थित थीं।

ऊपर वर्णित कार्यक्रम से असंबद्ध बी आर ए में रह रहे कर्मचारीगण ने श्रीकृष्णजन्म पूजा श्री पूर्ण चंद्र दास के पौरोहित्य में गांधी सभागार में संपन्न की।  
Celebration of Teachers' Day 
A lockdown didn't stop our students and trainees from honoring and thanking their teachers on the occasion of Teachers' Day on 5 September 2020. The trainees of the Basic Computer & Office Operations course became teachers for a day and taught a topic each in the virtual classroom. The teachers of JPM School experienced fun and joyful afternoon with the special online programme put up by the school students with music, poetry, and wishes. The student-turned-teachers for the day include Shashank Gupta as the Principal and Shivam Kakkar as the Vice-Principal.
Livelihood Programme with Wildcraft & LabourNet
Partnering with Wildcraft and LabourNet, an initiative began with training 12 vocational trainees of the Association on sales of facemasks on 5 & 6 September 2020.
 
In addition to training at the Association’s campus, the vocational trainees were also provided hands-on training at the Wildcraft’s Store at Connaught Place. Post-this, the trainees ventured into areas like Connaught Place, Khan Market, etc. in Delhi to sell masks.
Remembering Sri K.N. Nayar
Even today, we marvel at the dedication and integrity of Sri K. N. Nayar, the former Hony. Executive Secretary of the Blind Relief Association. His contribution to the Association is far greater than the positions he held for years.

A virtual remembrance meeting was held on 9 September, on his 102nd birth anniversary. Many former employees and students of the Association were also a part of this meeting. 
Obituary - Sri Ajai Kumar Mittal
Sri Ajay Kumar Mittal, an inspiring educationist and a leading crusader for equality in the field of visual impairment passed away on 22 September 2020.
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With over 45 years of experience in the field of disability – rehabilitation and in visual impairment, in particular, Sri Mittal was a significant person in the field of education for the visually impaired. He was an active and vibrant person all through his life, a stalwart in the field, respected and sought out globally for his insight and wide knowledge. He held important positions in the World Blind Union as the Secretary-General and Treasurer. He was also one of the most outstanding promoters of Braille and Training of Special Educators. Being the perfectionist he was, Sri Mittal's accuracy and acumen have left us in awe on numerous occasions. Read More
Gandhi Jayanthi
With most of the students continuing their education with online classes, the few trainees in the Association spent 2 October cleaning their work places and praying in the Gandhi Hall of the Association, in remembering and following the importance of Gandhian thoughts about cleanliness.
Virtual or non-virtual, love for the Japanese language remains the same!
The advent of the pandemic, COVID-19, has taught the world to educate, work, shop, and entertain in ways that were quite foreign to most of us before. With the background of how things have been working out around the world, one can’t help but see a very nebulous future. Nevertheless, though cities and countries may have to undergo lockdowns, passions and interests certainly can’t. Read More
Online Sale
Due to the pandemic,  the Association's regular Diwali Bazar could not be held this year and so the sale of candle and paper products were made online. The e-commerce website was developed voluntarily by a father-son duo - Mr. Gautam and Mr. Divij Kapoor and the products are now delivered pan India. The site remains live throughout the year and has products exclusively designed for special occasions. The latest sale was for Christmas 2020. Check the site here
Virtual Training on Microsoft

Navika Chhauda, a Gold Microsoft Student Ambassador, conducted a virtual training on Microsoft programs for the students, trainees of the Blind Relief Association, and interested outsiders from 21 November 2020 for 15 days. The topics taught were Microsoft App: Seeing AI, MS Office 365, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, MS Word, MS Outlook, MS OneNote and OneDrive
Microsoft Donations
Thanks to Microsoft for having donated five laptops in supporting the education/ training of the visually challenged persons at the Blind Relief Association. 
Meeting new friends!
It's never a bad time to meet new people! Class 9 students of The Shri Ram School virtually met the vocational trainees of the Blind Relief Association on 22 December for a short time of introduction and interaction. We're sure both the students and trainees had a lot to learn from each other.
Updates
1. JPM students continue their classes on online platforms.
2. Durgabai Deshmukh College of Special Education.
  • Final Open Book Examination was held in 2 phases from 14 - 31 August 2020 and 14 - 25 September 2020.     
  • 29 students (6 blind girls) have been selected for admission. The maximum intake of the course is 35. Classes began on 8 December 2020.
3. Diploma in Computer Education:
  • Held Practical and theory examination from 26 Nov to 13 Dec. 
  • New Admission - 1st, 2nd, and 3rd cut off list of admission have been released by RCI and 9 students have paid their fees so far. The course will start in January 2021. 

4. Basic Computer & Office Operations Course -  The selection interview took place on 28 Dec and 10 students have been selected. The course will start in January 2021.
Webinars, Trainings & Demos
1. Virtual workshop on self-awareness for the staff of the Blind Relief Association conducted by Col. Hari Varma, Consultant - Youth4Jobs Foundation on 8 August 2020. 

2. Online panel discussion on 'Livelihood Opportunities for Persons with Visual Impairment conducted by the Blind Relief Association in partnership with Udhyam Learning Foundation & ProBano on 12 August 2020

3. A month-long online training course on Computer Skills & IT Literacy for Visually Impaired conducted by the IT Dept. of B.R.A began on 1 September 2020

4. A demonstration of MyEye 2.0 an assistive device was held on 18 December 2020 and was attended by teachers from the School, College, and Computer Center. MyEye 2 designed for blind and visually impaired people by Orcam Technologies, Israel can read the text (any printed or digital text in English), recognize faces (also identifies products, barcodes, currency notes), and requires no internet connection. 

5. Mercer conducted online training sessions in English Communication & MS Excel in the months of September, October, and December 2020 for the staff of the Association. 8 staff members attended this training. 
Videos

1. Webinar on Journey through the Lives of blind sportsmen - Blind Bankers of India
2. Blind students & online classes
3. JPM School - Teachers' Day
4. "Shraddha Smaran" meeting of Sri Ajay Kumar Mittal held on 30 September 2020 
The New Block of Building is approaching completion. Your contribution will help us get to that faster. 
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That's a wrap! From the Blind Relief Association team to yours, thank you and wish you all a very happy New Year 2021
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