DISASTER MANAGEMENT REACHES TO BLIND PEOPLE OF NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR BLINDS (NAB), MAHALAXMI, MUMBAI - SARITSA FOUNDATION ORGANISES WORKSHOP ON 17 AND 18 JULY 2013. India is home to world’s largest number of blind people. Out of 37 million populations of blinds internationally, there are 15 million blind people in India. It is further illustrated that, in India, there are 22 blind males and 28 blind females for every 100,000 people. The social and economic condition of blinds in rural and urban India is in terrible state. They are most vulnerable in disasters and emergencies. Saritsa Foundation had recognized the need to prepare blind people to minimize loss of their lives about 14 years ago. It provides equal opportunities to blind people to raise their awareness and develop their skills to be alert to learn to survive and plan to seek timely help. Devastating disasters in India are a recurring phenomenon and these have guided Saritsa Foundation to make blind people inclusive part of Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives. Saritsa Foundation has empowered 9500 persons with disability so far to mainstream them in the process of Disaster Management. Towards this mission, Saritsa Foundation organized a workshop on 17 and 18 July for the visually impaired vocational trainees of Mahalaxmi Institute of National Association for Blinds India, Mumbai, where the men and women participants from all over India took part. The participants were provided education, practical training with mock drills with innovative use of local resources and house hold items to protect and respond with developed survival skills in emergencies of disasters like earthquake, flood, cyclone, fire, terrorism, chemical and biological hazards.

1. SARITSA FOUNDATION (SARITSA CHARITY TRUST)
A Mobile University For Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change
A Mobile University For Disaster Risk Reduction & Climate Change
Builds capacity to reduce risks from disasters and climate change
by reaching to Door Steps of vulnerable people ­ A
by reaching to “Door Steps of vulnerable people "A
People Centered, People Led, and People Owned Resilience and
Safety Culture Methodology.

2. DISASTER MANAGEMENT REACHES TO BLIND PEOPLE OF
NATIONAL ASSOCITION FOR BLINDS (NAB), MAHALAXMI,
NATIONAL ASSOCITION FOR BLINDS (NAB), MAHALAXMI,
MUMBAI ‐ SARITSA FOUNDATION ORGANISES WORKSHOP
MUMBAI ‐ SARITSA FOUNDATION ORGANISES WORKSHOP
ON 17 AND 18 JULY 2013.
ON 17 AND 18 JULY 2013.
India is home to world’s largest number of blind people. Out of 37
million populations of blinds internationally, there are 15 million blind
people in India. It is further illustrated that, in India, there are 22 blind
males and 28 blind females for every 100,000 people.
The social and economic condition of blinds in rural and urban India is
in terrible state. They are most vulnerable in disasters and
emergencies. Saritsa Foundation had recognized the need to prepare
emergencies Saritsa Foundation had recognized the need to prepare
blind people to minimize loss of their lives about 14 years ago. It
provides equal opportunities to blind people to raise their awareness
and develop their skills to be alert to learn to survive and plan to seek
timely help.

3. Devastating disasters in India are a recurring phenomenon and these
have guided Saritsa Foundation to make blind people inclusive part of
Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives. Saritsa Foundation has empowered
Disaster Risk Reduction initiatives Saritsa Foundation has empowered
9500 persons with disability so far to mainstream them in the process
of Disaster Management.
Towards this mission, Saritsa Foundation organized a workshop on 17
and 18 July for the visually impaired vocational trainees of Mahalaxmi
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Institute of National Association for Blinds India, Mumbai, where the
men and women participants from all over India took part.
The participants were provided education, practical training with mock
drills with innovative use of local resources and house hold items to
protect and respond with developed survival skills in emergencies of
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disasters like earthquake, flood, cyclone, fire, terrorism, chemical and
biological hazards.

4. The important points which were part of training are given below:‐
1. Make them to learn to mind map vulnerability and risks of the
1 Make them to learn to mind map vulnerability and risks of the
areas where they live and work.
2. Guided them to develop a net work of helpers whom they trust to
rescue them in emergencies at home, school or place of work. To
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have mobile or telephone numbers of these friends, relations and
neighbors.
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3. Develop Jodi system (Buddy system) to help each other in need.
4. Must identify escape routes for escape.
5. They must be in possession of longer white cane for walking to
5 They must be in possession of longer white cane for walking to
facilitate easy maneuver around obstacles.
6. Preparing an emergency kit
7. Learn to take care of medical documents and other important
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documents.
8. Develop their survival skills to respond to live situations.
9. Remain alert and keep on learning about use of local resources in
emergency.

5. 10. Putting off gas stove/regulator, electric utilities
11. First Aid
It is encouraging to share with you that the participants were found very
sensitive to learned and develop skills for their survival. On
quantification of impacts the following was observed:
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1) Optimism – We can do it!
2) Team work – We are together to protect ourselves and our people.
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3) Initiative – Timely mind mapping of action plans with survival skills.
4) Resourcefulness to use local resources – Innovative use of local
resources.
resources
5) Determination – We have effective skills to save lives.
6) Confidence and finding strength in themselves – We are strong
enough to take local action to protect.
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7) The preparedness education will bring best into the participants to
find their own strength.

6. The Photographs of the
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event speak !!!
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7. The Participants

22. Please Contact/Donate
saritsa@vsnl.net OR saritsafoundationindia.in@gmail.com,
http://www.youtube.com/user/saritsafoundation
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Mob‐ 09323157377,
Tel‐ 91 22 24366370
Tel 91 22 24366370
Fax ‐ 022‐ 24370138
Website‐ saritsafoundation.org (Mozilla Firefox)
Donation/Support by donors/supporters be sent on name of
Donation/Support by donors/supporters be sent on name of
Saritsa Foundation(Saritsa Charity Trust) by Cheque/Draft to
Corporation Bank, Mumbai Worli Branch India. SB Account
No. 017400101011299. IFSC : CORP0000174. OR

23. Transfer of the Donation/Support on name of Prof. Smita
Kadam, Executive Director through Western Union Money
Transfer, Mumbai India.
Address for Western Union Money Transfer –
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Prof. Smita Kadam
National HQ
National HQ –
Flat No.‐3, Pankaj CHS, S R Keer Marg, Bhandar Lane, Mahim
West, Mumbai – 400016.
Email for information ‐ saritsa@vsnl.net
Tel. – 91 22 2436 6370
Mob ‐ 9 98 0008
b 91 9870008717
PayPal Account shall be intimated shortly.
PayPal Account shall be intimated shortly

24. Appreciation Letter from
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National Association for
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the Blind, India (NAB)
the Blind India (NAB)