Visually challenged IIT researcher helps needy

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A person can accomplish anything if his mind is active. I am no different from people who have vision because I can also perform the same tasks with the help of tech.

KAILASH TANDEL Yuva.

In the past two months, he has built a team of 15 volunteers — from his own residential colony at Machimaar Nagar in Colaba — to provide dry rations, sanitary napkins and medicines to over 800 residents of Machimaar Nagar, Sudaam Jhopdi, Darya Nagar and Murti Nagar, spread across south Mumbai.

The volunteers make a list of people and their needs, and call them once they have the kits ready. Apart from distributing the kits, the volunteers have also distributed 300 sanitisers.

“We have also reached out to people with disabilities in areas like Palghar (on the outskirts of Mumbai) with the help of IIT-B For Justice,” said Tandel, referring to a collective of students, researchers and faculty members in the institute.

“When I lost my eyesight, it took me 15 days to realise that I cannot see anymore but once I accepted reality, it was easier,” said Tandel, who turned blind at age nine due to a genetic condition called retina pigmentosa. “A person can accomplish anything if his mind is active. I am no different from people who have vision because I can also perform the same tasks with help of technology,” he said and added that technology played an important role in organising volunteer efforts through video conferencing and funds on social media. organisation