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Pentaiah learns to earn a livelihood
“This is the story that I will go back and tell! Maybe it is routine for you all but for me it was a very moving experience
– a human story, very meaningful,” says Calvin Pabst of LDS Charities.
In a little thatched hut by the road, Pentaiah sits with a
cabinet full of commodities. It was during a routine
community based rehabilitation program in March 2002 at
Kuchakulla Ramachandra Reddy Eye Centre
(Thoodukurthy, Andhra Pradesh) that a field worker identified
Panuganti Pentaiah. Pentaiah had lost his eyesight as a
child and lived with his brother’s family, agricultural laborers
in Budharam village in Gopalpet mandal.
Despite being blind, Pentaiah was very energetic and lively.
He used to roam around the village, depending upon the
villagers’ generosity to make some money. He had never
worked, but was popular because of his sociable nature.
He did not use any mobility aids; he walked very slowly in
unfamiliar areas or took the help of his brother’s children.
When the ICARE field worker identified him he was in an
unkempt condition. The rehabilitation team counselled him
and tried to convince him to become a CBR program
beneficiary so that he could lead a productive and dignified
life. Pentaiah told them how much his daily earnings were
and demanded to know whether they could guarantee him
that amount. He was assured that he would make a decent
living, in addition to acquiring respectability.
Pentaiah was quick to train in the essential living skills
taught by the field worker, as also orientation, mobility, and
socio-economic skills. The rehabilitation team also
arranged for a Government Medical Board Blindness
Certificate, transport concessions and old age pension.
Keeping in mind Pentaiah’s interests and local resources,
he was given vocational training in trade and business
techniques for running a petty shop. The village panchayat
president approved his request for a shop on the highway
and the local villagers helped him to construct a bamboo
shed. Starting with an initial investment of Rs 1,200 from
Christoffel Blindenmission, (a leading eye care funding
agency in Germany) he began selling essential
commodities. Pentaiah manages his small business successfully. His
brother’s son helps him when he goes out to purchase
stock. Helping Pentaiah become independent has been a
proud achievement for the CBR field workers.
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