About us

Who we are

SAKSHAM is a charitable national organization founded & registered at Nagpur under registration number MAH/654/2008(N).

In Tamilnadu, SAKSHAM is a charitable national organization registered at Madurai, Tamilnadu under registration number TN/16/20015.

Samadrishti, Kshamata Vikas Evam Anusandhan Mandal (SAKSHAM) has its head office in Nagpur, Maharashtra. SAKSHAM was established with an aim to bring all persons with various disabilities into the mainstream of our nation. SAKSHAM believes that disabled people are not a burden on society but assets of the nation. Though presently dedicated to the service of the visually impaired, SAKSHAM has its commitment to all the persons with various disabilities and also to the environment, health and other social activities to strengthen the society.

Projects Running By SAKSHAM

Presently SAKSHAM is running following projects for INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIFFERENTLY ABLED.

Madhav Eye Bank

SAKSHAM not only propagates the importance and divinity of Eye Donation, but also manages the donation of corneas through eye banking and grafting thereof to give sight. With its pledge to establish at least 100 ‘Madhav Eye Banks’ the organization so far could establish 12 licensed eye banks in various parts of the country including the states of Maharashtra, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh etc. (Licensed eye banks =14, Eye collection Centres = 12, Awareness Centres = 24) By the end of year 2010 the chain of eye banks collected around 2500 cornea giving benefit to more than 800 corneal blind by sight restoration and many with the use of the cornea for therapeutic purpose.

Madhav Audio Books Library

SAKSHAM creates books in audio form through audiocassettes, CDs, etc. So far over 500 books have been created with more than 15000 cassettes by SAKSHAM’s Nagpur unit. The service is provided Free of Cost to needy blind students. The books are first created in Audio Book form with the help of voice recordings by more than 50 volunteers from various fields including housewives, retired people, professionals, teachers, and students who lend their voices to record the books either on cassettes or in the digital form in computers. The cassettes are then multiplied or the audio tracks edited and provided to needy blind students for study. We got 7000 blank audio cassettes thru “Cassette Tula” of BJP National President Hon. Nitinji Gadkari. Weight of cassettes equalling his weight. SAKSHAM runs such Audio Books Libraries in Nagpur, Kalyan, and Kolhapur in Maharashtra and Ambala in Haryana.

Madhav Braille Books Creation Centre

In view of providing ‘Sanskar Sahitya’ (Literature giving the values in life) SAKSHAM’s Nagpur, Kalyan, Akola (Maharashtra) units are also creating books in Braille Script through computers. The volunteer force mainly comprising of either housewives or retired people who after a brief training in computer orientation now contributing to this service and created around 80 books in a short span of three years. The books include first-ever Braille Versions of some important Marathi Granthas (Large volume books) like Samarth Ramdas Swami written ‘DASBODH’, Rashtra Sant Tukadoji Maharaj written ‘GRAAMGEETA’, The famous bird watcher Shri. Maruti Chitampalli wrote ‘RAANVAATA’, and many other books along with books related to curriculum.

Marriage Bureau For Physically Challenged

At Nasik, Maharashtra and New Delhi an activity of arranging marriages amongst physically challenged is run for the last many years by SAKSHAM unit.

Krishnajvoti Agarbatthi Nirman Kendra

At this centre of SAKSHAM in Palakkad, Kerala, blind people are manufacturing incense sticks and soap successfully earning their living and now they are no longer depending upon the society. The demand is more than the supply at present and therefore there is a need to raise the production capacity.

Visually Challenged Women Hostel

In Kaladi, Kerala SAKSHAM is running a hostel for visually challenged women where blind student girls and other blind women are housed with a facility of good food and honorable living.

Saksham Photocopy Centre

An orthopedically challenged youth is being rehabilitated through training and a job to run this photocopying centre at Nagpur by SAKSHAM recently.

Swaradrishti

A musical group in Nagpur comprising of visually challenged, physically handicapped as well as normal artists is actively presenting musical programme to earn ‘Maandhan’ (Money of honor) that is distributed amongst blind and orthopedically challenged artists.

Surdas Bhajan Mandali

SAKSHAM’s Palakkad, Kerala unit has many groups of music-loving visually challenged people who present regular music programs of devotional songs and earn their living.

Avurvedic Aushadi Nirman Kendra

SAKSHAM Varanasi UP unit’s team of blind persons has been trained to produce some daily need Avurvedic medicines through this project.

“ABRAR” (Audiobook Reader And Recorder)

AudioBook Reader And Recorder is a landmark achievement of SAKSHAM through its ‘Anusandhan’ (Research) is the development of the device “AUDIOBOOK READER AND RECORDER’ for the visually challenged. After studying a number of difficulties and problems faced by visually challenged in general and students in particular regarding using Audio Books with the help of a variety of devices SAKSHAM has successfully invented a device named AUDIOBOOK READER AND RECORDER (ABRAR in short). This unique device is the first of its kind developed in our country. Its earlier version was brought to light in the month of September 2008 as ABR (Audio Book Reader) and the latest one ABRAR in August 2010 is presently being successfully used by more than 100 blind students personally and has been installed as Group Hearing Library Setup in some educational institutions including some colleges.

Saksham Low Vision Enhancement Centre

Low vision is a subject not popularly known to people in our country. A category between Sightedness and Blindness, which cannot be corrected with medicines, surgery or the use of spectacle correcting refractive error. In fact, about 75-80% of visually challenged are facing low vision problems. To comfort such sufferers by providing magnifiers designed by Dr. Ramesh Sathe of Pune a Low Vision Enhancement centre was established at Nagpur in collaboration with Vijaya Memorial Trust, Pune. Many people are benefited from this centre so far. SAKSHAM organized low vision enhancement camps in Gadchiroli and Nagpur Districts, especially for primary standard low vision students and screened more than 300 children of which around 65 to 70 students have benefited. Presently SAKSHAM runs Low Vision Enhancement Centres at Nagpur, Kalyan, Kolhapur (Maharashtra), and Ambala (Haryana).

Recreation Center For Physically Challenged

SAKSHAM like their sighted counterparts blind people also needs some moments for recreation. If such centers where a facility to regular visit for entertainment, recreation, hobby class, etc. is available through providing storybooks in Braille and audio, music system, TV, audiobooks, audio games in computers, toys, accessible indoor and outdoor games, clay models making, and many other activities. One such center has recently been inaugurated at Akola, Maharashtra.

Legal Advice Cell

The physically challenged people face many problems when they attempt to seek jobs or facilities they deserve as their legal rights. The apathy and ignorance of society is the responsible factor for this. Counseling of such sufferers is undertaken with proper guidance under this Legal Advice Cell at Nagpur.