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 Vinod, then rescinded the latter's invite, then
again reconfirmed it and now have finally withdrawn invites of us both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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