Mumbai: Tanya Balsara, founder of Tanya Computer Centre, inaugurated the sixteenth computer centre for the visually impaired in Jodhpur last week, marking a significant milestone in her mission to empower blind individuals through technology. The Tanya Computer Centre, in association with BPA Ahmedabad, now has six centres in Gujarat—Ahmedabad, Sayla, Kapadwanj, Dessa, Valsad, and Jodhpur. In addition, the initiative has centres in Katni, Narmadapuram, Gaya, Bhawanipatna, Kalahandi, Hazaribagh, Dumka, Balodabazar, Mahassammund, Pimpri (Pune outskirts), and Mumbai.
Speaking at the 14th Convocation ceremony of Tanya Computer Centre, Balsara, who is herself visually impaired and has personally taught 300 students to become computer literate, said, “I seek your help in spreading the word to all 8.8 million blind people in India that nothing can be more enabling, empowering and liberating as computer literacy can be, for the blind. Once you are computer literate, you are almost as active as a person with eyesight. Thanks to Computers today.”
She urged attendees to introduce at least one young blind person to computer education, sharing her personal experience of the transformative power of technology.
Lara Balsara Vajifdar, introducing the chief guest Preetham Sunkavally, remarked, “Gone are the days when only basic education was given to the blind. Today is the age of specialization and the blind can undergo specialized education in hundreds of new fields that have opened up. Like our Chief Guest, who has the rare honour of completing a masters degree in management from the most prestigious Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad. His, is a truly inspirational journey of achievement and not allowing his serious handicap of lack of sight coming in the way of his pursuits. I hope our students get inspired by his journey and strive to achieve even a part of what he has. I will let him to talk to you about his journey and the obstacles he had to cross on the way.”
Mr. Sunkavally encouraged students, urging them not to focus on their handicap but to pursue goals relentlessly.
Sam Balsara, Chairman of Madison World, which supports Tanya Computer Centre through its CSR unit, Madison Resource Foundation, said, “We are delighted to have adopted the cause of computer literacy for the blind in India. Seeing the change that Tanya went through after becoming computer literate and the change in her students, I am convinced that this is the most liberating and beneficial act that anyone and the government can do for the blind.”
The Tanya Computer Centre provides free computer education to all blind persons, alongside assistance in learning English, personality development, and accessibility testing, continuing its mission to create opportunities and independence for visually impaired individuals across India.
