National Women's Day: Visually impaired woman show light to others in Jalandhar
As they say when one loses a sense, others are enhanced! 45-year-old visually-impaired Deepika Sood is a perfect example of this. When Sood is not in office, she is working on her laptop and in between all this she looks after her four-year-old daughter. Even her daughter Sukhmani Grover wants her mother to help her to do the homework.
As they say when one loses a sense, others are enhanced! 45-year-old visually-impaired Deepika Sood is a perfect example of this. When Sood is not in office, she is working on her laptop and in between all this she looks after her four-year-old daughter. Even her daughter Sukhmani Grover wants her mother to help her to do the homework.
Sood was born with this disability.
Sood is running an NGO Saksham for visually-impaired and is working with zeal to spread awareness about the disability. She is the general secretary of Saksham Punjab. She started the NGO in 2011.Presently around 400 blind students are associated with the NGO.
She says that her laptop is her office.
Working like a through professional as she searches for the software that converts text to speech she says “I have learnt how to type, and we have given training to around 60 students.” Sood said that she wants to make these students digitally empowered. Currently she is working on a talking book library project where students would be able to learn chapters by listening only. The NGO also provides blind people with a talking watch, a talking calculator, smart cane along with other aides. In the office that is situated in HMV College Jalandhar recording of books is also done. Till now, around 500 books have been recorded.
THE JOURNEY!
Explaining about her journey, she says that when she completed her post-graduation in 1997, she decided to start a career in disability sector only. She then joined National Association for Blinds. After she got married in 2011, she came to Jalandhar and started Punjab chapter of national NGO ‘Saksham’. They have been helping the blind people free of cost.
“Fund raising is a big problem for us,” she says. She knows how to manage her personal as well as professional life. While talking to HT , a door bell rings and she goes out to answer it.
“If we will not do anything for ourselves, others will also not do anything,” she says with a smile. Talking about her personal life, she says, “I am blessed with a daughter and I prefer to do all her works.”
“My only desire is to work for people who suffer such tragedies in life and make them independent,” she adds. “I want needy people to contact us or if anyone wants to help, please come forward.”
(Contact number of Deepika Sood: 8437692797)
