A teacher lacks sight but his vision has given new direction to thousands of people with visual impairment. In the wake of the pandemic, an organisation steered by him has supported over 500 out-of-work families.

As principal of the Ramakrishna Mission Blind Boys’ Academy in Narendrapur in 2010, Biswajit Ghosh has been mentoring the students towards a life of dignity.

The academy is known for placing stress on extra-curricular activities. Apart from studies, the students take part and win laurels in cricket, football, swimming, music and several other activities.

But his work is not limited to the academy.

The pandemic has put millions of people out of work. Among such people, the differently able have been hit the hardest. Thousands of visually impaired hawkers who sold stuff on local trains and at suburban stations have been robbed of their livelihood.

The Society For The Welfare Of The Blind, of which Ghosh is the secretary, has provided dry ration and financial support to over 500 such families across eight districts of Bengal.

Ghosh and his NGO were felicitated with the Disha Samman 2020, organised by Disha Eye Hospitals, at a New Town auditorium on Thursday.

The award is given to acknowledge the achievements of visually challenged people and organisations which work towards the benefit of these people. The award comprised a plaque and a cash prize of Rs 1,00,000.

The Telegraph has earlier reported on the donation drives of the NGO.

“After every fortnight, I sit with plans of the next — how to gather money for the drive. We have a target of reaching out to 900 families. We have already covered over 500. I am extremely grateful to my friends, colleagues and former students who have supported me in this. But a lot of work is left,” Ghosh said on Thursday.

“The pandemic situation has been challenging for all of us. One can very well understand the plight of the visually impaired during this testing times. It is really encouraging that the Society has come forward to help the blind,” said Debasish Bhattacharya, the chairman and managing director, Disha Eye Hospitals.

Debashis Sen, the chairman of Hidco, presented the award to Ghosh on Thursday.

Those supported by the NGO includes people selling everything from incense sticks to homemade chanachur. What struck Ghosh most is the difficulty for visually impaired people to switch professions.

“These people were not begging. They earned a life of dignity by hard work. The pandemic is threatening that,” said Ghosh, who has done his master’s in English literature from Calcutta University.

Ghosh was himself a student of the Narendrapur academy and taught there for more than 15 years before taking over the top post.