Friends
It is with deep remorse that I am informing you of shameful behaviour of an
organization called Retina India.
RI is holding a national convention in Delhi on September 24 and 25.
They invited me and my brother Dr. Prof. Vinod Asudani, for some sessions in
the said convention.
However, all their invitations were, oral to begin with, and when I wrote to
them for written invites they forwarded without essential details like
registration Number.
Again, I had to plead for registration number, which they grudgingly provided.
Anyway, the confusion and inco-ordination reached to such a level, that they
first invited me and Dr. Vinod, then rescinded the latter's invite, then again
reconfirmed it and now have finally withdrawn invites of us both resulting not
only in hardship and anguish but waste of human and financial resources.
The ground given for such abrupt U Turn is that we said we would be accompanied
by escorts.
Now, it goes without saying that a totally blind person requires an escort for
effective mobility, otherwise, there is a clear risk to his/her life. besides,
lack of escort surely compromises efficiency in outdoor and new surroundings to
widely varying degree for the totally blind. Anybody claiming full and
effective mobility and dignity in moving about new surroundings and in a vast
campus without an escort is indulging in self delusion.
We have witnessed this often enough to hazard any such venture.
The tone and manner of their communication is hurtful, to say the least.
They claim that none of the people are accompanied by escorts in the convention.
It baffles me how a NGO working for blind does know so little of the basic
needs of the blind community.
I am compelled to conclude that actually the NGO is run with clearly defined
medical goals for researching the cure for some retinal conditions, and
consequently is totally unaware of actual needs of the blind or totally blind.
I am not writing this out of personal motives, even though their behaviour has
caused much needless anguish to me and my brother.
Besides a personal insult, such a conduct is an insult to blindness in general,
and anybody compliant in such conduct is contributing to such an insult.
The propaganda of the organization surely creates false hopes in the hearts of
hapless blind which is cruel to say the least.
Psychologically, it also hinders the full acceptance of the condition which is
a sine qua non for effective living with blindness.
In fine, RI is nothing more than a clique of medical doctors doing research, to
whom a handful of blind folk have rendered support in the false hope that the
treatment is just round the corner and workable for most blind people.
Let me remind one and all that living with blindness is the key to a good life
as a blind, and these tantalizing illusions of a complete cure for most be
guarded against.
My above observations are duly supported by oral and e mail records of the way
in which our legitimate requirements were condescendingly granted by
organizers, and When I spoke up, the invitations were summarily withdrawn.
I have no dearth of conventions to attend, but I appeal every blind person
having self respect to give matter a thought and decide for her or himself the
course of action in lending unqualified support to an NGO which is cut off from
the totally blind and their life.
I know the rules of this group do not permit mails against any group in
particular, but this definitely is an out of ordinary situation in the blind
field, and I thought to let everybody know the other side of all pomp and glory
projected by such NGOs. I would be happy if the traffic on this topic is not
carried out further in this forum.
The moderator may, in his discretion, take action against me, should he so
please.
I would be compelled to reply, if the NGO publishes any response in this group
itself.
With thanks and regards
(Rajesh Asudani)
Assistant General Manager
Reserve Bank of India
Nagpur
Cell: 9420397185
o: +91 712 2806846
R: 2591349
It's not activity that wears out the body and spirit- it's inactivity. Keep
going!"
GUS ECKSTEIN
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