Blind Peoples Association Ahmedabad, Sharing Vision for Life Mr Bhushan Punaini executive director of the Blind People's

s Association, Ahmedabad was sitting in his chamber after completing the question answer session post the the visit of management students from a Business school to the association. Some questions regarding the future challenges and the future plans for the association asked by the students made him to ponder upon a series of thoughts. One student had asked him Has the association made attempt to apply modern management principles? Other student had remarked Would the association be able to continue the past growth trajectory? What has the association done to remain sustainable? What are the plans of the association for the consolidation post the growth and expansion seen in the last few years? He remembered the day when he had joined the association three decades back, immediately after completing his management studies from Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA). He also remembered the last board meeting where the issues and challenges of appointing a chief operating officer, instituting a Human resources department in the association, improvements in work systems and processes, and capacity underutilization were discussed. The blind in India 1 Six million children worldwide have a disabling visual impairment, and a shocking 90% of them receive no education at all. Developing countries of the world contribute to this largely. India is now home to the world's largest number of blind people. India has just one eye surgeon per 100,000 people. Of the 37 million people across the globe who are blind, over 15 million are from India. 75% of these are cases of avoidable blindness, thanks to the country's acute shortage of optometrists and donated eyes for the treatment of corneal blindness. While India needs 40,000 optometrists, it has only 8,000.On the other hand, while India needs 2.5 lakh donated eyes every year, the country's 109 eye banks (five in Delhi) manage to collect a maximum of just 25,000 eyes, 30% of which can't be used. According to the Asia Pacific Optometrists Organization, India has around 12,000 ophthalmologists who have no time to conduct blindness-preventing surgeries because they are flooded with general eye check-up of patients. For India, it is vital that ophthalmologists focus on surgeries and optometrists take charge of primary eye care refractive errors like presbyopia, contact lenses, low-vision aids and vision therapies. This is how most developed countries managed to control and eliminate avoidable blindness. In India around 153 million people require reading glasses but do not have access to them. India has around 20 optometry schools which produce just 1,000 optometrists annually as against the 17 million people being added to the population during the same period. Indian optometrists migrate to foreign shores because optometry is among one of the best 10 professions in US and UK. Meanwhile, shortage of donated eyes is becoming a huge problem. Of the 15 million blind people in India, three million, 26% of whom are children, suffer due to corneal disorders. But only 10,000 corneal transplants are being done every year due to the shortage of donated eyes. The Union health ministry has already launched a national program to control blindness and expects to reach its blindness elimination target of 0.3% by 2015, five years before the WHO deadline of 2020. Blind People's association I choose not to place dis, in my ability -Robert M Hensel Blind Peoples Association (BPA), established in 1954, based at Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, was one of the worlds early mover welfare organizations to pose itself as a One Window Service for Persons with Disabilities with a mission of Promoting comprehensive rehabilitation of persons with all categories of disabilities through education, training, employment, community based

rehabilitation, integrated education, research, publications, human resource development and other innovative means. To accomplish its mission, BPA, marked its presence in the activities like education, vocational training, placement and rehabilitation for the disabled2. Besides, BPA is actively involved in providing employment and placement services, runs urban and community based programs for rehabilitation of the aged and the disabled. Nearly, 80% of the people supported by BPA belong to socially and economically disadvantaged classes, as their disabilities usually are a result of lack of medical prevention and care at an early age. Through unique services targeted for the betterment of the disabled people, BPA had successfully built up its national as well as international repute and won many awards and recognition. The list of the awards won is given in Appendix 7. The association supports not only the blind but also the visually impaired, hearing impaired, orthopedically handicapped, mentally retarded, mentally ill, deaf-blind, multiply disabled, autistic, persons with cerebral palsy, and persons with all categories of disabilities. The association intervenes through early identification, intervention, training in daily living skills, educational, vocational and employability skills, support in assistive devices, health care and employment. The association operates from 15 campuses/centers in the State of Gujarat by providing unique center based services and by reaching thousands in the community through home based and community based rehabilitation. The Ahmedabad campus also houses secondary and higher secondary schools and training centers for the disabled. Daily facilities which are provided at the association include counselor, physiotherapist, Employment officer, Ortho Prosthetic, Low vision, audiologist, Psychiatrist, Physician and Homeopath. Majority of these services are available to the needy for free. For increasing sensitivity of the youth, the association also offers Internship opportunities to local and international students from management, law, engineering, design, and communication fields. In 2010, around 14 students were given opportunity to work on various projects. The projects included designing communication booklet, Service Learning, designing blind navigation system, working on voice controlled wheel chair etc. The activities of the association range from special to integrated education and disability to vocational training and commercial production, from intensive services for persons with dual and multi sensory impairments to extensive outreach service. Additionally the association champions the prevention of blindness, manufacture and distributes assistive devices, administers large community based rehabilitation programs, professional and human resource development programs, advocacy and networking. Across a period spanning almost three decades the association has transformed from a single small school and a vocational center for the blind to a multi campus, state level multipurpose movement. From a Rs 10 lakh corpus in the early eighties it has grown to have a budget of around 10 crores in 2010. According to the executive director of the association, BPA would be one of the largest non government organization (NGO) in India in terms of its land bank, projects coordinated, number of beneficiaries, geographical coverage, budgets, representation of international organizations, and representation of the office bearers in the policy making bodies in the country. Around 15 separate campuses are operational in the state of Gujarat. The association presently provides direct employment to around 350 people who are on full time employment. All the full time staff members receive remuneration as per the sixth pay commission rules of the Government of India. There is also an active team of visiting faculty, volunteers and part time employees who work with the association. At the end of September 2011,

around 225 blind boys and 70 blind and disabled girls are giving vision and strength to their future at the BPA hostels. Stay, education and food is provided by the association absolutely free of cost to these children. The association also houses various centers for undertaking developmental, rehabilitation, training and educational activities for the blind and disabled. The list of various centers and their brief activity profile is given in appendix 1 and 2. Support and donations The association has tie ups with HDFC bank, IDBI bank, Give India foundation, and similar other international resource mobilization agencies for helping the association generate the required funds through donations. The Gujarat Chess Association has helped by conducting training programs for the inclusive development of chess in the disabled. All the donations to the BPA enjoy 100% tax redemption under section 35 a/c of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The association has a separate fund raising department which oversees the activities related to the timely raising of funds. Volunteers based in many countries assist in mobilizing funds internationally. The association believes in transparency in all its dealings. List of donors and details of receipts of funds are published daily on the website. In 2010-2011 corporate firms and other organizations such as Lubi Pumps, Lincoln Pharmaceuticals, Cadila Healthcare, CMC Ltd., GAIL Gujarat Technological University etc have donated funds or supported by providing resources like tricycles, free aids and appliances. The association receives support from international agencies like CBM South Asia regional office (for Community based rehabilitation services), Help age India (for providing services to elderly),Hilton Perkins International Program (for providing services for early interventions), Sense International India (for providing services to deaf blind persons),Lions International. As per Mr Bhushan Punaini, executive director of the association, the association has been witnessing not only a continuous inflow of funds over the years from corporate and other NGO but also a steady support from national and international agencies, including CBM Germany, National Association for the blind (NAB), Sense International India etc. The association is the nodal center of the National Association for the blind for the state of Gujarat. Transparency initiatives The association is not a government department. It depends on government grants for some of its developmental initiatives. It is for these activities that the association has to adhere to the regulatory requirement under the aegis of the Right To Information act. In a measure to improve transparency and generate trust in the stakeholders the association has voluntarily decide to cover all its activities (even those not supported by government grants) under the ambit of the right to information act. Any information regarding any activity of the association is available on request. The association has appointed a full time public relations officer (p.r.o.) for the purpose. The role of the officer has been to continuously engage with the media and communicate media stories of relevance. The local media has been supporting the association by publishing information on activities and events. The media coverage received for some events like blind car rally,participation in abylimpics, cultural events at the association and the happenings at the association has helped the association in terms of donations. Around 80% of the donations coming to the association have been walk in- without any direct paid investment in advertising and media spending to generate donations. The website is interactive and provides all related details of the activities of the association

including the annual report. There is an effort to upload daily details of the donations received. Even electronic donations are invited. The drive is to obtain credibility of all stakeholders through transparency in all dealings internal or external. Governance The trustees of the association are accessible to all. Advocacy measures have ensured that the expenses arising out of litigation are negligible. Service rules are followed for all. Proper appointment letter is given to employees who are taken on the payrolls of the association. There is a legal advisor appointed whose suggestions are sought on all legal matters. His suggestion was taken by the association before tying up with the media agency which has a LED hoarding put on the terrace of the hostel building. Decisions are taken after due thought and internal discussions. There is no haste in any process. The books of accounts are audited by M/s Kaushik Jayendra and Company, Ahmedabad. The board meets four times in the year and the minutes are documented and circulated. A board rotation policy is followed. The board approves the programs, budgets, annual activity reports, and audited financial statements. The board also ensures the organization's compliance to the laws of the land. No remuneration, sitting fees, or any other form of compensation has been paid since the inception of the association to any board member. In addition to other required registrations, The association is registered under the Bombay Public Trust act 1950 as a Public Charitable Organization with registration number F 122 Ahmedabad. The association is also registered with Credibility alliance as having desirable norms. Placement and Job support provided to the disabled Students of the National Institute of design, Ahmedabad (NID) are working on a sensory park in the campus which will enable the blind and multiply disabled kids to understand shapes, sizes, textures, and surfaces. Students of NID have also developed a new brand identity for the association which suggests the full form of the three letters B,P,A as Best Possible Abilities. Ms Nandini Rawal, Projects director coordinates the students projects. Periodically the association also involves the young management students as summer project interns on various projects. Details internship and other projects done by students are presented in appendix 3. On December 8 2009 the association had organized a employment fair for the blind and disabled. As Ms Nandani Rawal, project director at the association relatively it is easier to gene rate funds than to find employment for the blind and the disabled. In the fair close to 300 individuals with hearing impairment, low vision, mild mental retardation, and mild mental disabilities received job offers as housekeepers, attendants, lift operators, office assistants and other unskilled positions in the corporate sector. Around 11 firms participated to offer jobs. Mr Rameshbhai Patel placement officer at the association was conferred as the Gujarat State Government Placement Officer in 2011. He was given recognition by the state government for his relentless services in terms of placing around 500 individuals with disabilities in the last twenty years. History and Major Milestones3 It was in the early fifties that a small group of blind people met every evening to socialize and recreate themselves where the association has its roots of being created. With internal support the small recreational-social club was converted in to a Braille library, where the group thought to give benefit of the resources created to a larger blind audience. Late Dr Jagdish Patel the blind legend who dedicated his life for the betterment of the community created the Blind People's association. In 2011 he was awarded the Padma Shri by the president of India.

In 1960 the Braille Library was converted in to a school for the blind where four students appeared for the senior secondary examinations (SSCE) .It was in 1964 that the foundation for the Association for Blind people ( called by the name Blind mens association) was laid which had two main activities -a) Adult training center for the blind and b) Secondary School for the blind. The adult school for the blind had under its foray the Braille library, the Braille press and used to source and distribute equipment for the blind people. The campus of the association was set up in 1964 in the Vastrapur area of the city of Ahmedabad just opposite to the IIMA. In the late 60's the association started a technical school whose role was to attempt to increase the employability potential of blind people. In 1976 a mega expansion plan was floated under the anchor ship of Mr. Harish Panchal. Mr. Harish Panchal was a engineer. A production cum training center for the blind was floated for the blind and the disabled. The center would not only manufacture and source the equipment but also offer its services to provide the equipment to the needy disabled. By the late 70's the association had staff strength of around 80 people. Around 200 beneficiaries in form of students were present and the grants from state government helped manage the operations. A reputed business person having presence in Textiles, Mr. Arvind Lalbhai was the president. The estate of the Late Shri Arvind Lalbhai donated a sum of Rs 45 Lakh for the BPA education and research development center in 2010. The seeds of growth roped then have shown results and the center which is still very active contributes up to ten crores rupees in terms of sales revenue to the association as an output of the activities that it conducts. Professionalizing the Association To fuel the already set up expansion plans the association had approached a German Agency CBM, which promised to support the association financially under the condition that the association had a professional on board. The designation offered was Manager Blind School. The German agency had agreed that it would fund the salary of the professional for the first five years. He wanted to become a doctor when he was young. After joining IIMA from day one he was very clear about his special area of interest rural development.As a young management Graduate Bhushan Punani made the unconventional choice of joining the association. It was in 1979 that a fresh management graduate from Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad ( IIMA) Mr Bhushan Punani joined the association. He joined the association not as a teacher or a social worker but to learn whether management principles can be applied to the social/developmental sector at a salary of around rupees one lakh a year4. Bhushan's father the late Bhagat Chela Ram had worked tirelessly for social reforms. He had said to his institute director that he would check himself and what the association had to offer for a period of two years and then decide on his career path. He has not looked back since he joined5. Mr Punaini has been nominated as the Member of 2010 committee constituted to draft legislation for The Persons with disabilities (equal opportunities, protection of rights and full participation) Act 1995 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India6. It was under the managerial leadership of Mr Punani that the association conducted the Strength- Weakness-opportunity-threat analysis in 1979 and decided to expand the scope of association's activities. The idea of projects was born. Nandini Raval a young management graduate from Ahmedabad joined in 1980. Together the duo steered the associations' entry to Programs for deaf, Community Based rehabilitation, Industrial Training Institute for the blind, and very large intervention programs for family members with disabled children in their homes. In 1982 the association targeted vertical expansion by planning to operate multiple centers in Gujarat. The senior management team understood that the people of Gujarat were a donor community and the Gujaratis ( Gujratis are people who speak Gujarati Language or stay in the state of Gujarat) believed in giving and sharing. Later projects on consultancy support for replicating the BP

A model in other states was also undertaken. The vision then was to replicate the Gujarat model to other states of India and emerge as a nodal developmental agency for the disabled. Later on for every new department or division was set up, it started attracting and retaining qualified professionals. The list of the active professional team members along with their academic qualifications in appendix 4. As per the executive director the association has taken special care that the team of the professionals has the required domain expertise and professional qualifications. Professional Skill development of the team members has been a forte at the association and nomination of key individuals to international training programs has been a regular feature. The association has been regular scholarships and the funds are used to sponsor eligible candidates to international training programs. In 2011 three individuals have been nominated to The Rohimpton University Program in the United Kingdom and five individuals have been nominated to the Hilton Purkins International Program in the USA. The impact of the training programs has been good. Although because the association does not have an active and fully fledged Human Resources development department, quantitative and qualitative post assessment of the training programs is not done. But as per the executive director, there have been reasonably good improvements in outlook, understanding of roles, language, openness and exposure. Team expansion has been happening on a regular pace. Equal opportunities are given to volunteers who wish to join full time. The average tenure of the senior management and the senior middle management at the association has been around two decades. Beginning 2000, there was a phenomenal jump in the growth and scope of activities of the association. The association expanded its geographical depth in the state of Gujarat with ten full fledged campuses, undertook large projects. The association established an eye hospital in Bareja, Gujarat, in 2006 where services of eye surgeries are provided to the poor and the needy for free. The expenditure budget for the year 2010 for the hospital was 2.5 crores which is higher than the total budget of the association in 2004. The belief of the association to fuel its growth plans was that bigger projects would help decrease the growing overhead costs. The financial reports of the association for the year 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 is given in appendix 5. The organizational structure in 2011 is depicted in appendix 6. Navalbhai and Hiraba Eye Hospital7 The eye hospital is a unit of the BPA and the Bareja General Hospital Trust. The hospital provides comprehensive eye care services to people in the 32 villages around Bareja. Hospital has a capacity of 50 beds, 2 refraction rooms, operation theaters., pathology lab, spectacles workshop, waiting area for 20 patients. The hospital organizes camps where the awareness on eye related diseases and disorders is spread. Until 31March 2010, the hospital has conducted around 8000 cataract surgeries, 1650 minor surgeries, 66 corneal repair surgeries, and many camps for eye checking. The consumables at the hospital have been supplied by the Positive Vision( UK) and the Christoffel Blinden Mission ( CBM) in Germany. The hospital received the Best Achievement Award for highest eye surgeries in Ahmedabad district from the Department of Heath Government for Gujarat for successfully conducting 5500 eye surgeries in 2009-10.( annual report). Free eye check up camps are also regularly organized at the hospital Affairs at the association The association manages its routine daily affairs in a transparent and informal manner. All

the office bearers of the association have followed an open door policy and are easily accessible to all. The role of the executive director assumes lot of importance in the association in terms of the link responsibility with all other departments. The role of the Project Director is equally significant in terms of the share of the expenditure of projects in the total expenditure. The general body meeting of the association is held every year in the third week of September where the board of directors, executive team, the trustees and the president remains present. It is the General body meetings that the plans for spending and the major budget heads are discussed and passed. Minutes are written and circulated to the members in the team. In the history of the association, in the span of thirty years it was only once that the meeting did not happen due to some external uncontrollable variables. The list of the management committee office bearers is given appendix 4. The three trustees meet daily five days a week. The executive director and the project director along with the director training also remain present in the daily board meetings to update and appraise each other on the preceding days happening and the activities of the day (including major visitors). The executive committee meets once every three months. There are no cancellations in these meetings once scheduled and all the statutory procedures required are followed. Agenda of the executive committee meetings is circulated to the members well in advance.The association follows divisional structure at the top and departmental structure at the bottom. The annual report is published on the website and contains all related information. There is a section on the Credibility Alliance Norms Compliance report which clearly specifies CEOs remuneration, distribution of staff as per salary payments and total cost of international travel of staff. The association has taken an advantage of its central location in the Ahmedabad city and has tied up with a media agency to put a very large LED Hoarding on the terrace of the school premises. The deal with the media agency clearly specifies that in addition to providing fixed rent to the association the agency also will broad cast advertisement visuals of the association. Although multiple request have come for the renting out of the Premises ( including conference halls, training centers, gardens) - which can be a potential source of income for the association are not given on rent because of safety threat to the blind and disabled people moving around. The association also believes that it will endanger the equilibrium and the sanctity of the energy in the place. The requests for giving the garden premises on rent for sad ceremonies including post death rituals have been ruled out completely. CCTV cameras are also deployed at key locations in the premises for greater visible control. No major incidents or accidents have been reported. Initiatives for operational efficiency The association under the executive and managerial leadership of the executive director has not left any stone unturned for the improving efficiency through small measures. a) Management Principle of economy : Because every rupee saved is every rupee earned, the association rather than hiring external agencies for painting and maintenance of the large premises has hired service of two individuals who fondly are called Jhamooras. They are paid Rs 250 per day and have employment all around the year. This practice not only saves cost of an external painting agency but also helps the association provide all year round employment. The association does the buying of the painting and the hardware material itself. The last in first out ( L.I.F.O.) model of stock system is followed to get advantages of the price differentials in stocks B) Scrap Management: We do not just give away any scrap that is generated in the system. We collect it, let a huge stock to get developed and then we negotiate the best of the prices for the scrap material and stock, says the executive director. There was an incident where old CPU and monitors were to be scrapped off. Using negotiations and active perusals lead to a collection of Rs 700 per

CPU ( instead of Rs 200 per cpu) resulting in to an income of Rs 2 lakh. c) Bulk Purchase Principle: The designated staff of the association visits the main source of supplies instead of depending on middle men and dealers. Items such as Milk are sourced from the local dairy directly, (Gayatri dairy). Wood is sourced from a local wholesale hub Waghai around 100 km from Ahmedabad, Wheat is sourced from the Wholesale Agricultural Product Marketing Committee, and the steel requirements are met by direct buying from Sulekhram Steel Rolling mills. The buying deal of the wood made the purchase team including the executive director stay in a forest for two days but then led to a savings of around 15 lakhs per year. Potatoes bought directly from the mandis saves around 40,000 Rs per year. The purchase officer is a 77 year old individual who takes home Rs 10,000 as salary makes annual purchases to the tune of around 10 crores. No incident of any mal practice has been reported yet. He also does not have any other means of livelihood and has stayed with the association for over three decades. d) Power of Networking: An email from Mr Venkat (founder Give India Foundation) helped the association source around 1200 pizza breads from a local supplier who was to dispose them off because of an extra production run. These pizza breads are daily supplied to the Bareja eye hospital where the poor and the needy patients who come for eye treatments relish hot food along with potato curry. e) Financial controls: The executive director signs on every voucher which represents any outgoing payments, when the people come to meet him for seeking signature and approvals, he gets an opportunity to meet and interact with people from different departments he told. Heads of departments at the centers away from the main campus at Ahmadabad have the required autonomy for the financial decisions. The association follows a unique methodology for finance management where all the three variables of assets, expenditure and investments have shown an increasing trend. Details are available in appendix 9. f) Investments: The association parks its excess funds as and when available in Principal Mutual Fund (growth and index funds) rather than bank fixed deposits. Up to 70% of the excess funds are invested in Market linked instruments. Average 14% annualized returns have been achieved. The focus is on liquidity and yield. The process followed is to keep on investing when the market is low and exit when the market is oversold. For saving the costs of commissions on the investments (which would have gone to the middlemen) the association invests through its own agency and the commission on the investments comes back. The professional advisory services of J M Financial are taken for the investment decisions. h) Culture based on why: People and team members are asked to question. There have been instances where the following why questions have been raised by lowest level staff members . 1) Why do some people come to work on Sundays and surf social networking sites and are free on normal working days 2) Why does the person who have an air conditioner in the room does not switch off when it is not

required

3) Why does the pantry which is made for serving tea coffee to seniors and guests serve around
12 to 15 cups of tea to normal people? A few of the why questions have been addressed but a majority remain unanswered.

I) well defined organizational Structure with clear department division and clarity in roles and
responsibility j) Costing of all products sold is done following a thumb rule of cost to material + labor + overheads+ profits margin ( 10 to 20%) k) Payments through Cheques to external parties

l) Staff is sent to international training programs and is groomed from the bottom level to pick up
higher level of responsibility.

Challenges Perceived: The association believes that still lots need to be done. Follow through of the rapid expansion in the state of Gujarat, consolidation is a burning issue. The senior l leadership is also getting older. The website is still not as exclusive and dynamic as it should be. The Human resources department is not in place yet and the present Human resources systems appear to be ad hoc. Alignment of the association's activities with its mission also needs a revisit. A few campuses other than the main campus in Ahmedabad are struggling for resources and capacity utilization. The safety and hygiene standards in the association are not up to the mark.

1) Identify and discuss the control measures taken by BPA, and check whether they are adequate or not in accordance with the four parameters of the Control System 2) Identify the bottlenecks for expansion of BPA. How to take care of those bottlenecks? Suggest a strategy that takes care of the bottlenecks and ensure fair practices and expansion of BPA. 3) Discuss the efficiency of the Organization Structure from the Management Control Perspective.

Appendix 1. Various centers at the association

Appendix 2.Regular activities at the association (Source :2010 Annual Report) Activity Supported by/recognized by Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India Highlights of the activities

Schools and academic programs Shri K N Desai adult training school for the blind Primary education to adult blind People, computer literacy for the blind from seventh standard Recognized by the board of secondary education, result 93% Certificate courses in general mechanics, canning, carpentry, motor rewinding and organizing skill based competitions 26 students admitted for this two year course, recognized by the higher secondary education Training in music until shikshan Vishrad level 604 disabled students benefited, conducts employment oriented training programs and certificate courses Infrastructure support for the hearing and visually impaired, conducts program for improving computer literacy Job oriented training program for the typing in english and gujarati Training in operation for EPABX, and Key phones, job oriented courses

Miinie Cama Secondary and Higher Department of secondary school for the blind education, Govt of Gujarat Rajesh Mehta Technical school for the Blind Dept of Manpower employment and training, Govt of India Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India Akhil Bharathiya Gandharva Mahavidyalya Department of employment and training Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India

Nandini Ramesh Gandhi School of Physiotherapy

Lions Metropolitan Shakriben Mangaldas Music school for the blind Industrial Training Institute

Cama computer training center for the blind

Dahiben Stenography course for the --do-blind Shirin Cyrus dalal operating and receptionist Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment, govt of India Department of employment and training

Arti Mrugesh Doctor Hair and care center

Training in hair and skin care to disabled girls

Rehabilitation and intervention center Chandrikaben Kinariwal Mental Hygiene Clinic Ratanlal Lallubahi Center for the multihandicapped Dept of Social Defence Training of 40 children with mental govt of Gujarat retardation in independent living skills and parent orientations Ministry of Social Justice and 73 deaf blind people being provided direct and indirect services

empowerment, govt of India Jagdish patel and Bhadra Satia early intervention center CIDA C N Kinariwala Asian rehabilitation training institute Hilton Perking International Program USA Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment, govt of India --do-Training of 38 babies and infants with severe disabilities in independent living skills and parent orientations Provides training and accommodation to professionals

Jasoda Gauri Thakorelal Shah low vision clinic

Assessment of 700 low vision persons, provided optical devices to 600 persons, non optical devices to 467 persons

Maharshi Ashtavakra Community Based rehabilitation project

Dept of Social De fence Coordination of 120 projects all over govt of Gujarat Gujarat covering around 3.25 lakh people with disabilities Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment, govt of India --do-Support Services Imparts training in simulated industry settings in light engineering, commercial design, stationery, book binding, composing and printing Distribution of assistive devices like wheel chairs., tricycles, calipers etc 14000 braille volumes for circulation among blind 10500 casettes which are used by 450 blind across Gujarat

Training Cum Production centers Somabhai Lallubhai multi category training center for the handicapped

Priti Jagmohan Bhogilal National Rehabilitation Engineering Institute C N Braille circulating Library

Rajaram Mohan Roy Library foundation Calcutta

Archan Natwarlal Kinariwala Talking Ministry of Social Book Library Justice and empowerment, govt of India

Lioness Karnavati Rukshmani Dept of Social De fence Computerised Braille Press and Deepchand Gardi Braille govt of Gujarat teachers training institute Documentation and research center BPA research and newsletter Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment, govt of India Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment, govt of India Other campuses Navalbhai Hiraba Eye Hospital CBM Germany, Positive vision, Helpage India Eye camps, eye surgeries, cataract operations Published quarterly in English Gujarati and Hindi

Scheme of assistance for the purchase and fitting of assistive devices

Sanctioned assistance of 1.3 crores during 2010-2011

C S Samariya charity Shop

Donors and corporates For collection sand selling of used items and discards Physiotherapy, assistive devices, community based rehabilitation, direct support to persons with spinal injury, and services to children with multiple disability Day care center and vocational training center for the kids with multiple disabilities

Kutch Comprehensive Rehabilitation Die Johanniter, GIVE center Bhuj, Gujarat foundation, Paraplegic center

Shri R M Parikh Resources Center and Vocational Unit ( SUMERU)

Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment, govt of India

BPA lioness Karnavati Hostel for the Dept of Social De fence Provides free lodging and Boarding to BLIND govt of Gujarat the 60 blind and disabled women Jagdish Patel and Bhadra Satia Early intervention center MSM- samarth residential respite care center NAAZ Hilton Perking International Program USA National Trust New Delhi Training of 35 babies and infants with severe disabilties and their parents for independent living skills Respite and residential care to 30 people with severe mental retardation, autism, multiple disabilities, and cerebral palsy and their parents in independent living skills and orientation of parents Vocational training in tye and die, candle making, paper bag making

Lioness Club of Karnavati BPA vocational training center for persons with multiple disabilities Jagdish K Patel physiotherapy center

Ministry of Social Justice and empowerment, govt of India

Blind Physiotherapists provide therapeutics services to needy, small day care center for mentally retarded children

Appendix 3 : Placement/training/volunteer activities 2010-11 (source :Annual report 2010-2011) Sr no Date 1 04/14/10 Details three students from S K Patel Institute of Management, Gandhinagar were placed for Summer Internships Five Fifth year students from B S HSS Trusts's college of architecture, Mumbai Two Students from J M Patel institute of Social work , Anand, Gujarat

2 3 4 5 6

May-31_2010 10-July-to 10 August 2010

2-August-to -15 Two student from Idea Institute of Management and Technology, September 2010 Ahmedabad 15 November to Four students from First year of Gujarat National Law university 4 Dec 2010 13 December to One student of Diploma in Clincal Psychology and Psychotherapy did her 9 March 2010 training in parent training, student training, group counseling and psychological testing with mentally challenged children in the BPA multiple disability unit Na 8 Jan- 2011 Fours students from IIMA First year student of B arch from Aayogan School of Art Jaipur

7 8 9 10

17 Jan to 17 July Stefen Murgaski Blind Volunteer from Canada taught computers to blind 2011 students 19/janu/2011 One student from Center for environment planning and technology University, Ahmedabad, studied Methods and challenges to improve accessibility of persons in Public Transport Four students from IIM A submitted case study on BPA

11 12

27_Jan-2011

1 feb to 4 march One student from MSW college Botad, Gujarat, was given responsibility of 2011 understanding the working of State Nodal agency center of the National trust, a statutory body under the ministry of social Justice and empowerment Government of India 3_february 2011 Four students from faculty of architecture Sarvajanik College of Engg and architecture 7_feb 2011 8_feb_2011 14_feb to 14 April 2011 19_jan to 19 april 2011 Six students from Idea Institute of Management Ahmedabad visited BPA A blind student pursuing her M.Ed studied opinion about vocational training available in BPA A fourth year student of the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design Jaipur studied Developing display material for products of BPA A fourth year student of the Indian Institute of Crafts and Design Jaipur studied Developing display material for products of BPA

13 14 15 16 17

For 2009-2010:

1. 2 1 S e p te m b eAr O c to b e r 2 0 0 9 : M s . S k irta m a la r (S h a g g y ) M s , H c m a n th i A n u ru d h ik a tfroe w S rila n k a to ge n m and p ra c tic a l co m p e te n c ie s of in clu s iv e a n d s p e c ia l n e e d s e d u ca tio n

2 . 3 0 N o v e m b e r - 2 6 D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 : M r, P a rth M e h ta , M r. V e d a n g P a te l, M r, A d ity a a hh a tt c o n d M r, P o o Sh B Se and Y e a r s tu d e n ts o f D h iru b h a i A m b a n i In s titu te o f In fo rm a tio n a n d C o m m u Gic a tio n T g a h nG lojay , t d id th e ir n a n d h in a e c r, o u g ra R u ra l In te rn s h ip a t N a v a lb h a i fit H ira b a E y e H o s p ita l, B aP eo ple'sthA ssociation. re ja o f e B lin d

3 . D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 : M r, A b h in it B h a t w h o is s tu d y in g p h y s io th e ra p y in th e Y e o m U n AU d id ehisity o f T e e S n iv rs Internship a t the IM a nd in i R a m e sh G an dh i S ch oo l o f P hysiothe ra py of the B P A ,

4 . 2 1 -3 1 D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 : M s . M itta l B . A n a n d , a n M .E d stu d e n t o f B h a g w a n M a h a(M .E d ), ogne C .SE d u c a tio v ir C o lle of . S a m a riy a - B P A C h a rity S h o p

s 5 . 1t N o v e m b e r - 2 D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 9 : M r H a rs h G a jja r,firs t y e a r s tu d e n t o f G u ja ra t N a tio n a l L a w U d id h is in te rn s h ip p ro g ra m m e . H e h e lp e d in th e B a d h te K a da m P ro g ra m m e o rg a n ize d b y N atio n a l T ru s t N e w D e lh i M e n ta l H y g ie n e C lin ic.

6 . 1 2 J a n u a r y - 2 2 F e b r u a ry 2 0 1 0 : M r S im a n t B h a r g a v a , M r, A m it S h rin g a r p u re , M sr. AAkb h is h e k D e M, riti A g a rw a l, M s, A lk a M r a e m a n t K e lk a r & M r, A n a n d A g ra w a l fro m N irm a U n iv ec o m psu c ce ss S P p ro je c t o n rsity le te d M fu lly r Jh H p ro m o tio n s tra te g ie s a n d v e h ic le s fo r th e B lin d P e o p le 's A s s o c ia tio n .

7 . F e b r u a r y 2 0 1 0 : M r N a v c c n K u m a r G a u t a m M a s te r in D is a b ilit y R e h a b ilitaD R A ) Afrom in is tr a t io (M tio n d m N a tio n a l In s titu te fo r th e M e n ta lly H a n d ic a p p e d , H y d e ra b a d stu d ie d th eBPA. te g ic p la n o f th e stra

8 . 1 5 F e b r u a r y - 1 9 M a r c h 2 0 1 0 : M r S h a il e n d r a S h a r m a , E n t r e p r e n e u r s h ip D e v e lo in mgeanr t I n s t i t u G andh p a d id h is in te rn s h ip . H e c o n d u c te d a r e v ie w o f C o m m u n ity B a s e d R P h ag ra m n n e o f p e rs o n s a n d e ro b ilita tio n (C B R ) a s s e s s in g a ttitu d e a n d p e rc e p tio n o f c o m m u n ity to w a rd s p e rs oe ss.w ith m e n ta l illn n s

9 . 2 -2 1 M a rc h 2 0 1 0 : M r, C h in ta n U m e s h b h a i P a te l, M r S h iv a n g P ra k a s h J a n i, M s ,ND h as h aD , M a isu a ta ra 5 u ta r ia , M r, H a rs h M a n o j K h e m k a , F ir s t Y e a r s tu d e n ts o f N irm a U n iv e rsnitye rtos tituate s tufd y afo r u d In o k o L w a s s e s s in g th e a w a re n e s s o f th e P e rs o n s w ith D is a b ilitie s A c t a m o n gge s.a w y e rs a n d Jud s t L

1 0 . 1 -3 1 M a rc h 2 0 1 0 : M r S u p a m G o y a l, M r C h a ita n y a T a m b a y , M r A rv in d B h a ra tio f P tu d ie d, th e , A h m e d s G P -1 IIM o rg a n iza tio n a l stru c tu re a n d d yn a m ics o f th e B P A .

Appendix 4. Team at the association President : Shri Jehangir Cama Vice Presidents : Shri Prakashbhai Mankodi , Shri Saurabh Kinariwala, General Secretary : Smt Nandini Munshaw Secretaries : Shri F J Porwal, Shri G J Vachani Directors : Mr Bhushan Punaini ( Executive Director) , Shri Harish Panchal ( Director Training) , Smt Nandini Rawal ( Project Director) Ex-office Members, Representatives 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Adult Training Center (Trust) for the Blind National Association for the Blind, Gujarat State Branch Mrs. Usha Vyas, President, Blind Women Association Mr. Manubhai G. Patel, President , Bareja General Hospital Trust Mrs. Raksha Mehta , President, BPA - Nadiad Branch Mr. Akhil Paul, Director, Sense International (India) Mrs. Tilotma Ladwa, Coordinator, HOPE Committee Saddbhavna Rural Development Trust Dr. Jit Mehta Balshala for Mentally Retarded Children

BPA's Professional Staff: Name Mr. Bhushan Punani Mr. Harish M. Panchal Mrs. Nandini Rawal Mr. Futarmal J. Porwal Designation Executive Director Director (Training) Educational Qualification /year of joiing

Project Director Manager, Braille Press & In Certificate in Physiotherapy charge of Assistive Devices

PGP IIMA /1979, LLB, PhD Diploma in Electrical and Mechanical Engineering MBA/1984

In charge Principal Of Secondary & Higher Mrs. Sudha M. Joshi MA B Ed Secondary School For The Blind Principal, Technical School Mr. Vasudev S. Patel Diploma for the Blind Principal, Adult Training Mr. Tarak Luhar MA B Ed Centre School for the Blind Dr. B.K. Panchal Coordinator B Sc (OT) Mr. Bharat Joshi Project Manager MSW, MA (Rohimpton Unive) Ms. Tejal Lakhia Superintendent, ITI PG Diploma in Nutrition Project Manager, Multiple Mrs. Vimal B. Disabilities, Mental Hygiene,M S W Thawani Deaf blind, National Trust Mrs. Mira Shah Fund Raising Officer BA Mr. J.T. Panchal Coordinator BA Mr. V.G Sharma Administrative Officer BA LLB Mr. Bipin Mehta Co-coordinator, Integrated MA B Ed Bed (special) Education Mr. Ambalal Manager (Training) BA P.Pandya Mr. Arindam Ray Manager, (KCRC) MSW Mr. Dharmendra Manager, N.H.Bareja Eye PG Diploma In NGO Management Kumar Jena Hospital Ms. Kinnari Desai Chief Coordinator ( On BA, pursuing PG course in USA Leave ) Mrs.Ushma Das Principal, Mental Hygiene PG Diploma in Special Education Clinic Ms. Jyoti Doshi Superintendent, MSM Naaz Graduate Mental Health, Diploma Centre from Perkins USA Mr. Rambhai Jadav Project Coordinator (CBR Trained CBR Supervisor Ashtavakra) Mr. Jyotish Project Coordinator (CBR Chaudhary Ashtavakra)

Trained CBR Supervisor

Ms. Nilam P.Gupta Zonal Co-ordinator West india - BPA Jodhpur branch Resigned

List of Staff of Special Need Centers Sr no Name 1 Mihir Jani 2 Krupa Velani 3 Kshama Shah 4 Jyotika Parmar 5 Deepa Joshi 6 Dipti Soni 7 Chetana Soni 8 Suman Ojha 9 Neeta Rathod 10 Kavina Khatri 11 Jagruti Bhrahmbhatt 12 Abha Bhatnagar 13 Hansa Chavda 14 Hemlatta Chaudhari 15 Sangita Kapadiya 16 Jigna Joshi 17 Heli Sompura 18 Falguni Shirke 19 Asmita Solanki 20 Shobhana Mistri 21 Chirantan Maisariya 22 Naresh Pal 23 Illa Patel 24 Niranjna Patel 25 Sangita Choksi 26 Minaxi Parmar 27 Rama Pandya 28 Kailas Solanki 29 Kashmira Upadhyay 30 Heena Parmar 31 Nilesh Chaudhari 32 Sunil Solanki 33 Parul Rathod Designation Project Coordinator Project Coordinator Information Officer Special Educator Special educator Classroom Assistant Special Educator Special Educator Special Educator Principle Special Educator Project Coordinator Special Educator Special Educator Special Educator Project Coordinator Special Educator Special Educator Special Educator Caregiver Physiotherapist Special Educator Special Educator Special Educator Special Educator Special Educator Special Educator Special Educator Special Educator PTC Teacher PTC Teacher PTC Teacher PTC Teacher Department National Trust ( State Nodal Agency Center) Deafblind Unit Deafblind Unit Deafblind Unit Deafblind Unit Deafblind Unit Mental Hygiene Clinic Mental Hygiene Clinic Vocational Training Services Visual Impairment with Additional Disabilities Visual Impairment with Additional Disabilities Early Intervention Center Early Intervention Centre Early Intervention Center Early Intervention Center Sumeru Day Care Center Sumeru Day Care Center Sumeru Day Care Center Sumeru Day Care Center Sumeru Day Care Center Sumeru Day Care Center Samerth Residential cum Respite Care Center Jeet Mehta Bal Shala Jeet Mehta Bal Shala Jeet Mehta Bal Shala Jeet Mehta Bal Shala Jeet Mehta Bal Shala MSM Naaz MSM Naaz MSM Naaz MSM Naaz MSM Naaz MSM Naaz

Volunteers or fund raising: 1) Dr Rajendra M Trivedi ( USA) 2) Mr Alpesh Patel ( Madras, India) 3) Ms Jasmine Anirudh (Dubai

4) Dr Chirag Shah (Canada)

Appendix 5. Annual Reports 2009-10, 2010-11

Income and Expenditure Highlights

Balance Sheet as on 31st March 2011

Properties

Amount (Rs)

Assets

Amount ( Rs)

Trust Fund

51348322

Immovable Property

102461448

Earmarked Fund

216433944

Movable Property

48673598

Depreciation Fund

46589898

Closing Stock

541643

Other liabilities

23477989

Loans and advances

8037730

Investments

142112634

Others

6750185

Cash and Balances

Bank 14647064

Cumulative Excess of 14625851 expenditure over income

Total

337850153

Total

337850153

Income and Expenditure Account for the Year 2010 2011

Expenditure

Amount (Rs)

Income

Amount ( Rs)

Projects

245793011

Grant

17620058

Objects of trust

18076811

Donation

48814541

Transfer of Funds

24420661

Interest on Investments

5531495

Other Expenses

14125084

Others

8370363

Excess of expenditure 865400 over income

Total

81201857

Total

81201857

Receipts and Payment Highlights for the Year 2010 2011

Payments

Amount (Rs)

Payments

Amount ( Rs)

Liabilities ( Decrease)

3703017

Opening Balance

13829904

Assets ( Increase)

27362095

Liabilities ( increase)

50910679

Other Payments revenue nature

of 50507461

Assets ( Decrease)

8890358

Other receipt revenue nature

of 55915796

TOTAL

129546737

TOTAL

129546737

6. Organizational Structure in 2011: In the 1980's the association had a three level structure
with the general body on the top. Executive director, Projects director and the Training director reported to the Executive committee and the General body. School Principals, coordinators, and managers instructors reported to the Projects Director. The organization structure in 2011 is depicted in the diagram below.

Appendix 7: List of awards won by the association ( source; facebook page of the association) 1982 Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FICCI) Award for Outstanding Placement of the Disabled 1982- State Award for the Placement of Persons with Mental Retardation 1991- International Golden Award for Community Development Services Overseas from the Help the Aged International 1995- National Award for Outstanding Performance in the field of Handicapped Welfare 2005 - Barrier Free Environment 2007- Rotary Ahmedabad Award-2007 2007-Godfrey Philips Silver Bravery Award Preity Zinta conferred the Silver Award for Bravery on the Blind Peoples Association in a glittering function held in Hotel Sheraton Rajputana at Jaipur on 20th June, 2007. This Award was given to the BPA for exceptional Acts of courage. 2008-National Award for Outstanding Performance in the field of Empowerment of persons with 00disabilities 2011- A video film titled Ultimate Adventure won the first prize in the We Care Filmfest on disability Appendix 8 : Mission, Vision, Values of the Association ( source www.bpaindia.org) Mission Promoting comprehensive rehabilitation of persons with all categories of disabilities through education, training, employment, community based rehabilitation, integrated education, research, publications, human resource development and other innovative means. Working for the blind, the deaf, the mentally retarded, the orthopeadically impaired, the mentally ill, the multiply disabled and the aged, working steadily... To provide services for persons from all categories of disabilities. To empower and encourage the disabled to be self-reliant. In the field of human resource development and research. Education, Technical Education, Professional Training for the Disabled- Production training in simulated industrial settings. Production and free distribution of assistive devices like crutches, calipers, wheelchairs, mobility devices etc. Prevention of blindness and disability like cataract and polio surgery. Services for the aged in the slums of Ahmedabad. Services for the mentally retarded, mentally ill. Services for the multiply disabled and deaf blind. Community based rehabilitation services for the disabled in villages all over Gujarat. Vision: That all people from all kinds of disabilities will get access to individual need based services as a matter of right, will have a good quality of life and will be invisible element of their communities and the nation. Values: People with disabilities have the right to education, Equal opportunity, Employment, Inclusion and the same quality of life as their non disabled counterparts.

Appendix 9: investment, Assets and Expenditure pattern across years(source: Association Internal document)

Investments (Rs Lakhs)

2 5 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
1 9 9 6 1 9 9 7 1 9 9 8 1 9 9 9 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 5 1 9 8 9 1 9 9 0 1 9 9 1 1 9 9 2 1 9 9 3 1 9 9 4 1 9 9 5 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 2 0 0 4

B P A A .T .C .B T O T A L

Expenditure ( Rs Lakhs)
9 0 0 8 0 0 7 0 0 6 0 0 5 0 0 4 0 0 3 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0
1990 1991 1994 1995 1996 1999 2000 2004 2005 1989 1992 1993 1997 1998 2001 2002 2003 2006

2 0 0 6

B A T

P T O

A C T

B A

Assets (Rs lakhs)

4 0 0 0 3 5 0 0 3 0 0 0 2 5 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 1 0 0 0 5 0 0
1 9 8 9 1 9 9 1 1 9 9 6 1 9 9 8 2 0 0 5 1 9 9 0 1 9 9 2 1 9 9 3 1 9 9 4 1 9 9 5 1 9 9 7 1 9 9 9 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 2 0 0 3 2 0 0 4 2 0 0 6

B A T

P T O

C T

B A

References:

1.http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-10-11/india/27977420_1_avoidableblindness- ophthalmologists-eye-diseases 2. http://www.senseintindia.org/htmls/bpa_ahm.html

3. Interviews with Executive Director of the Association 4. Bansal Rashmi (2011) , "I have a dream", Westland And Tranqueber Press 5. Kopikar Smriti, Outlook Business Magazine, September 26,2011,page 78 6. B P A Newsletter, July- October 2011 7. Hospital Brochure
8. Annual reports