Bangalore based NGO Mitra Jyothi empowers women with Disabilities

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 18 January 2022

Mitra Jyothi is a Bangalore-based NGO helps persons with impairments, particularly the visually impaired. They have a 'Centre for Women Empowerment with Disabilities' as part of their many projects. This centre, located in India's Silicon Valley, Bangalore, is a state-of-the-art, disabled-friendly, safe and secure housing facility for working women with impairments. The hostel facility was opened in January 2016 in conjunction with The Hans Foundation. The centre is designed to house 50 women who work in Bangalore and require a hostel.

Mitra Jyothi's Founder and Managing Trustee is Ms Madhu Singhal. She went to school and learned in Braille.

After overcoming obstacles, Singhal wanted to use her life experiences to accomplish something meaningful for the blind, and therefore to enrich the lives of others with her life lessons. Her contributions to society through Mitra Jyothi have been recognised internationally, and she has received numerous awards.

Women with impairments, according to the NGO, face more discrimination not only from the outside world but also from their own families. Girl children are frequently discouraged from seeking school and career opportunities. Concerns about girls' safety and establishing a life in a new city also offer difficulties. As a result, due to a lack of safe places, women frequently miss out on chances that could improve their lives.

The NGO's goal is to provide a secure haven for women with physical or visual challenges who are working or studying. It is accessible at free cost or at a reduced rate to help working women manage their finances. Mitra Jyothi's project promotes rural women to enrol in traditional education institutes and universities rather than distance education. Because of a shortage of accessible accommodations, most women with disabilities choose for online distance education. When such amenities are provided, they are sometimes out of reach.

In addition, Mitra Jyothi has a dedicated placement cell that assists many people with impairments in finding work. They assist women with impairments with grooming, soft skill training, resume preparation, and logistic learning through this cell. They were able to obtain work in the IT, government, and commercial sectors thanks to the efforts of the cell. The NGO assists persons with little education in finding simple, repetitive occupations in textile manufacturers and the food processing industry. Every year, the NGO organises a training programme for 'Advanced Computer Training' in conjunction with TCS. As a result, trainees are placed in other organisations such as Cisco, IBM, and Accenture, among others.