N.Sivaji Rao

Seasoned banker and financial controller with extensive experience in financial operations. Now actively working for HTBF (Help The Blind Foundation, Chennai) leading fund-raising activities. India is home to the world's largest number of blind people. Of the 39 million people across the globe who are blind, an estimated 12 million are from India. Eye diseases are more prevalent among economically underprivileged and impoverished communities in India. About 1 in 1000 children is estimated to be visually impaired in India. HTBF is very different in the sense that it employs its funds for higher education for the impoverished visually impaired – helping them assimilate in society and become employable. We have helped close to 5000 visually impaired students across India for their college studies during the last academic year and hope to take it to around 6000 in the ensuing year. We are embarking upon a scheme to provide skills training to around 700 V I college students along with their academic course with a view to making them employable by the end of their degree course - an initiative - probably the first of its kind- being supported by Cognizant Foundation and Other corporates. I seek the active support of CSR heads in the corporate world to consider partnering with HTBF in sponsoring 50-100 students for their college education and also in providing job-oriented skills to these visually-impaired students through our EMET ( Education Mobility and Employability Training ) program and connecting them to prospective employers. If you are interested in participating in our activities, please contact me at sivaji@helptheblind.in or reach me at +91 72591 56291. Any help is most welcome.