Vijay Bharit, 34, and Rani Jutala, 27, are both visually impaired and come from modest families. Vijay’s father is a farmer who works on others’ land in their village. After losing his job as a salesman during the COVID-19 pandemic, Vijay moved to Mumbai to live with his brother. Rani stays in a hostel so that her mother, who works as a domestic help, is not burdened financially.

Despite financial challenges, both completed their graduation through the Marathi medium and began preparing for government recruitment exams such as SSC, IBPS, RRB, and Insurance to build stable careers. Realizing the importance of digital literacy, they decided to pursue the Maharashtra State Certificate in Information Technology (MSCIT) course through VMSB, a government institution that teaches essential computer skills for employment.

Their major obstacle came during the MSCIT examination. The test format was not accessible for blind candidates, and they needed scribes to assist them. With less than 24 hours left before the exam, both struggled to find suitable writers. The lack of an inclusive examination system put their months of effort at risk.

In their moment of distress, Vijay and Rani reached out to the Eyeway Helpline. The counselor immediately coordinated through Eyeway’s network and arranged scribes for both within 24 hours.

With this timely support, Vijay and Rani were able to take the exam successfully, each scoring over 70%. The experience boosted their confidence and reinforced their belief in their abilities.

However, their story also points to a larger concern—the persistent lack of accessible systems and inclusive examination processes for persons with visual impairment. Without structural changes, many like Vijay and Rani continue to depend on last-minute interventions instead of equitable opportunities.

Team Eyeway