Seven visually challenged persons formed the Lotus Blind Welfare Trust of India in 2002.
A handful of well-dressed girls chatting merrily enter Thiruveethiamman Koil Street, Mylapore. Winding their way through aluminium vessels, plastic pots and food leftovers, they knock at a small gate. Scrambling 2-3 steps they cross the front porch into a passage that leads into a hall. Here they are greeted by their friends who grope to reach out to them. It is this casual gesture that gives away the secret. It takes a few seconds for one to come to terms with this bitter truth that they are all visually challenged. Yet, one realise that blindness does not deter them from carrying out their day-to-day activities or miss out on any fun which a normal person indulges in.
Amidst a slum, stands the hostel for the visually challenged, set up by the Lotus Blind Welfare Trust of India. The hostel houses more than 50 girls.
Originally written for The Hindu, read more at https://www.thehindu.com/features/downtown/location-is-one-of-the-issues/article3411589.ece