Neeraj Kumar grew up in a farming family in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. The youngest of five brothers, he was the only one to experience visual challenges from a young age. His early schooling went on without much trouble, but as he moved to higher classes, his vision began to deteriorate rapidly.

Despite multiple visits to doctors, the diagnosis remained the same—retinal damage with no possibility of restoring vision. Neeraj completed his 10th grade with great difficulty. He was unsure how to move forward with his education and felt disheartened about his future.

In 2013, everything changed when he came across Ye Hai Roshni Ka Karwan, a program by Eyeway. Listening to the stories of other visually impaired individuals who had secured government jobs and pursued higher education was a turning point. It opened up a world of possibilities Neeraj hadn’t considered before.

Motivated by the program, he contacted Eyeway’s helpline. A counselor offered him reassurance and direction, reminding him that a visually impaired person can do anything a sighted person can—with the right support. With Eyeway’s guidance, Neeraj joined a school for the blind to complete his 11th and 12th grades.

Determined to become a teacher, he went on to earn a B.A. from Dr. Shakuntala Mishra University in Lucknow. With consistent effort and encouragement, he also cleared the entrance exams required for teaching.

Today, Neeraj is a government school teacher in Bihar, teaching children from first to fifth grade. He feels proud of what he has accomplished and credits Eyeway for helping him at a time when he was unsure of the road ahead.

Neeraj hopes that more people like him get access to the right information and support systems. His journey is a reminder that a timely nudge in the right direction can change the course of a life.

Team Eyeway