A Patriotic Beginning

Growing up in a family deeply rooted in the Indian Army, Ram was inspired by his father and elder brother, both proud servicemen. The patriotism that surged in his family during the 1999 Kargil War shaped his aspirations to join the armed forces. However, his dreams of serving in the Army could not materialize due to medical results and rules. Undeterred, Ram moved to Delhi to pursue higher education and began charting a new path. His desire to serve society and do something for the country motivated him to go further.

Early Career and Volunteerism

Ram’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish “Intern Gyan,” a platform that helped young professionals find opportunities. Seeing the happiness and gratitude on the faces offresh graduates who secured jobs motivated him to contribute further to society. This inner calling soon guided him toward volunteering with NGOs like Shubham and Antar Jyothi, which supported visually impaired individuals.

Through his volunteer work, Ram encountered countless blind men and women from across India. These interactions profoundly moved him, particularly moments like helping Megha, a blind girl, secure a job in a Ministry of Defence. Witnessing the happiness and pride on her parents’ faces became a turning point, solidifying Ram’s resolve to dedicate his life to this cause.

Recognizing a Larger Need

As Ram continued assisting visually impaired individuals with education fees, scribe support, transportation, and Braille books, he realized a critical gap: the lack of suitable accommodations and resources for visually impaired students especially blind girls aspiring to pursue higher education. This revelation and growing requests for help inspired Ram to broaden his efforts.

The Birth of Battle For Blindness Foundation

In 2020, Ram’s resolve reached a new height amid the global pandemic. While most people were confined to their homes, Ram’s encounter with a blind couple begging on a deserted street moved him deeply. Despite his challenges, including battling COVID-19, he chose to stay in Delhi and assist those in need. One pivotal moment was helping a blind girl’s She Finally cleared the Clerical examination at Government Bank.. A heartfelt call from the her mother, who remarked how aptly Ram’s name reflected his actions, became a profound source of encouragement.

With the support of his brother’s Army friends and inspired by Donors & Volunteer’s advice to formalize his efforts, Ram founded the Battle For Blindness Foundation. Extensive research and discussions with visually impaired individuals informed the foundation’s mission to address their unique challenges and needs.

Creating a Safe Haven

Ram’s first significant initiative was establishing a Shelter for visually impaired girls in Delhi. Opened in 2022, the shelter offers free boarding and lodging to girls from marginalized and impoverished backgrounds. Designed to provide a clean, hygienic, and nurturing environment, the hostel ensures that girls can focus entirely on their education and personal growth.

The facility provides shelter and a family-like atmosphere with personal beds, well-ventilated rooms, healthy meals, and medical aid. It also offers career guidance, employment assistance, and mentoring to help these young women achieve independence and empowerment. Through skill development programs and access to adaptive technologies, many of these girls have transitioned to fulfilling careers, becoming beacons of hope in their communities.

Measurable Impact

As per the research article, India is home to an estimated 4.95 million blind individuals and 70 million vision-impaired people, including 240,000 blind children. Alarmingly, only 5% of these individuals are capable of earning a living independently, and 99% of blind women and girls have no access to education. Understanding the magnitude of this challenge, Ram Kumar chose to start small but with a profound impact.

Today, the Battle For Blindness Foundation stands as a symbol of hope and empowerment. Its programs have transformed the lives of countless visually impaired individuals, offering them skills and opportunities and the dignity and confidence to live independently. Ram’s journey from aspiring Army officer to champion for the visually impaired is a story of courage, compassion, and relentless dedication to making a meaningful difference.

Ram Kumar’s beams with pride when he saysm some blind girls are working in banks, some are doing government jobs and others are revered Teacher at School. Many of them have also gone into higher education – pursuing their M.A, and B.Ed. Ram believes that they deserve all this and much more”