Empowering the disabled: The Story of NSS
Just over ten kilometres away from the tourist attractions of the lake city — Udaipur, a humble non-governmental organisation (NGO) Narayan Seva Sansthan (NSS) has been transforming scores of lives over the last 35 years.
Nestled between the hilly terrain of the Aravallis, NSS has built what it calls a ‘Smart Village’- a self-equipped compound which empowers underprivileged differently-abled people. The organisation’s noble work does not end there. Not only does NSS provide medical treatments free of cost, but also provide vocational skills training while the patients are in recovery.
A person suffering from any physical challenges needs social inclusion, empowerment, financial independence and awareness of his or her rights. Skill development training is offered by the government and NGOs for digital training, mobile repairing, sewing, and so on. NSS also provides basic tool kits of hardware & networking, mobile and appliances repairing; and sewing machine in free after successful completion of programs
Since 2011, NSS has provided skills to 8,750 differently disabled in different segments as mobile repairing 2,875 and sewing 3,045 and computer hardware 2,830. After the training, the NGO offers free certificate and tools to establish their own startup business. Along with this, it has operated on over 3.5 lakh patients in the last 30 years. It gives aids and appliances, distributes food & clothes, provides free treatment, and free house distribution. Skill development training is focused on an individual’s disability, educational qualification and job requirement. NSS’s founder believes, making patients physically fit is not enough, to make them more confident and self-reliant we must change their perspective towards life by bringing them into the main stream.
History
NSS began its operations in 1985 and was set up by Padma Shri awardee Kailash Agarwal ‘Manav’, however, their work was exclusively restricted to social service. It wasn’t until 1997 that the organisation opened its doors to the differently-abled people. Presently, NSS’s prime mission is to rehabilitate the differently-abled and enable them to live with dignity, hence the emphasis on vocational training courses.
NSS runs two hospitals which house 1100 beds in Udaipur, Rajasthan. Apart from that, 480 branches in India and 49 branches abroad work in tandem to alleviate disabilities. With 125 medical staff, the two hospitals conduct over 70 surgeries on a daily basis. The relentless efforts of a dedicated team have helped to operate on 3,33,427 individuals free of cost. NSS has set up similar facilities in Uganda as well where the organisation has helped thousands of people with disabilities.
Matchmaking
The group also works for uniting couples who find solace in each other’s exceptions. Yes, we are talking about the differently abled people who are taken care and treated at NSS each day. The society around us disregards people with disabilities, but it is the feeling of love that binds them together. They seek refuge in each other’s disabilities and hence they complete each other.
Narayan Seva does a noble work of tying the hearts of the underprivileged and disabled by marrying them in a Mass Marrying Ceremony specially designed and executed for people at Narayan Seva Sansthan.
Over the years of its establishment, Narayan Seva Sansthan has continuously arranged free of cost Mass Weddings for the differently abled and impoverished couples turning their life into a fairy tale.
Ketto & The Differently Abled
Since its inception, Ketto has been a champion of those that are physically handicapped in India. Click on the links below to view crowdfunding projects it has been involved with for disability alleviation efforts. If you feel inspired, you can start your own project with Ketto as well.
Ketto Blog remains committed to inspiring and compelling social change to India’s most pressing problems through the power of great stories and engaging our audiences to take meaningful action.
