Dealing with a deteriorating vision, abject poverty and an alcoholic father, Manjunath’s tough childhood forced him to give up on his aspiration of pursuing higher education. Flashbacks of his forgettable childhood are reappearing as he now struggles to provide for his five-year-old son and pay for his education.

Before the coronavirus pandemic disrupted lives, Manjunath worked as a daily wage labourer while his wife worked as a domestic help in Chikkalasandra, Bengaluru. Their combined earnings were enough to manage the family’s expenses including their son’s school fee. But the family was left struggling as they lost their income source due to the nationwide lockdown in March.

Desperate to fend for his family, Manjunath reached out to Eyeway. Our team apprised him of government sponsored Aadhar Yojana, under which persons with disabilities can avail a benefit of up to Rs. 20000 to set up a small business. However, it’s extremely difficult for a visually impaired person to visit different departments to complete necessary procedural formalities in these times of social distancing. As it is there are pending applications of people who had applied for the scheme almost two years ago.

Seeking an alternate route, Manjunath explored the option of availing a loan under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) programme. But an applicant has to undergo entrepreneurship and skill development training before the MSME loan is granted. Manjunath couldn’t enrol for the training, as the institute remains closed in the wake of coronavirus outbreak.

In these uncertain times, what options are available to visually impaired people who have lost their means of livelihood and who don’t have enough resources to start something of their own?

What support can the state offer to Manjunath who wants to do everything in his might to build a better future for his son?