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Visual Disability in Nepal and Welfare system

The Nepal Blindness survey for the first time was able to detect the prevalence of Blindness in Nepal. Using the WHO criterion of Blindness being visual acuity less than 3/60 in the better eye, this survey estimated that there was 0.84%, Blind in Nepal. On the basis of present national population, there are 195, 000 persons are Visually Impaired in Nepal. However, it was noted that Visual Impairment was usually acquired later in life, about 59% having acquired this disability after 20 years of age. Visual impairment in Nepal has been observed due to several causes.

The congenital Blindness, Blindness by birth may cause by malnutrition, injury during birth, Hereditary, Vitamin a deficiency etc. The adventitious Blindness has been observed due to untreated infection, high fevers, measles, typhoid, optic atrophy, Glaucoma, injury and diabetic.

By virtue of being member of United Nations, Nepal recognized the human rights of person with disability in the year 1981 when Nepal along with the World community celebrated the International Year of Disabled Persons. Accordingly, it ratified a special law known as Disabled (Persons)Protection and Welfare Act 1982 (DPWA). After the endorsement of 12 years of this act, Disabled Protection and Welfare Rule (DPWR) formulated as legal instrument in 1994. The welfare of disabled people along with BVI Persons comes under the jurisdiction of the Social Welfare Council (SWC),which being the apex body to coordinate, promote and facilitate the social service sector has a legal responsibility to conduct welfare programs for the disabled persons. It monitors the activities of the Non-governmental and Non-Profitable organizations and facilitates them.

Nepal Blind Support Association (NBSA)

Background:

The Movement of disabled persons in Nepal came across remarkably only after celebration of International Year of Disabled Persons' in 1981 when Nepal recognized the human rights of Persons With Disability (PWDs). Several organizations, which established in Nepal during Asia pacific decade of Disabled persons, as welfare organizations, most of them implemented their plans in charity-based approach, which was contrast to the right-based approach adopted by some organizations in developed nations in 20^th century. The PWDs in Nepal then slowly realized their own social role for their rights and interest and begun to develop solidarity and participated actively in the disabled movement. During last Decade, numerous organizations which are run by the PWDs themselves established in Nepal.

Since the proper coordination between these two types of Organizations (welfare and self-help) couldn't be observed, found not favorable situation for the empowerment of PWDs.

The organizations for and of Blinds are also not untouched by this account. So the concept of Nepal Blind Support Association (NBSA) immerged which is expected to fulfill the gap between these two concepts by working effectively with the Blind Persons.

Hence, NBSA is an organization, which support the Blind persons with active participation of Blind Persons themselves.

Background:

After the establishment of NBSA by some of the Japanese service oriented persons, it desired to promote activities of RCNB , a Braille library which was established in the initiation of some resource persons with the support of Japanese Blind Person in 1992. As the popularity of Cassette books was observed among the Blind students, NBSA was supporting RCNB for Cassette library project.

NBSA Japan has established Nepal chapter, which makes all planning and implementation of the Nepal projects. It also monitors and evaluates the Project provided to different organizations then sends the report to Head Quarter in Japan. NBSA Nepal also conducts several activities to support the Blind persons in Nepal

Objectives:

NBSA, as 'with' Organization, intends to involve Blind Persons to support their class.

- To promote activities of organizations run for/by Blind persons.

- To develop extra curricular activities of Blind students in school, Campus and university level and their recreation.

- To facilitate under privileged Blind persons.

- To develop public awareness to make positive attitude for Blind person in Nepal.

- Counseling the Blind Persons and their parents and bring them together.

- To participate and organize the training, workshop and seminar to build the capacity of Blind persons.

- To promote fraternal relationship among Nepalese and Japanese Blind Persons.

- To introduce the newly developed technology to the Nepalese Blind persons.

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