Visually challenged couple Suresh and Kaveri start their life together
Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru
Bengaluru, May 31: Suresh and Kaveri tied the knot to start their life together though they have never seen each other. It was the first marriage organised by The Project Vision to rehabilitate visually challenged persons in society. The marriage was conducted at Sumanahalli Society on Magadi road in the presence of their families as well as friends and well wishers from Project Vision on Sunday, May 29.
Suresh who was born completely blind 28 years ago to Timmanaika and Ningamma hailed from an agricultural background in H D Kote. Out of the six children, he was one of the four who survived. His elder sister Rajamma and his younger sister Mahadevi are also blind. Only his 23 year old Sister Manjula has sight. All of them are now settled and have normal children.
Having come to Sumanahalli society in the year 2006, Suresh underwent training in garment manufacturing and later completed his PU studies. He is presently pursuing his degree in Arts and has completed his basics in computers. Suresh is also a singer and musician. Project Vision provided him first stage of rehabilitation by employing him to coordinate its activities among the visually challenged persons.
Kaveri is also born blind. She is now 25 years and has completed PUC this year. Her Sister Rukmani aged 36 years is partially blind. Her mother Jayamma is 80 yrs old and her Father passed away 15 yrs ago. Two of her brothers Shivarama Gowda and Vasu Gowda are also Blind. Kaveri is also a singer.
It was music that brought Suresh and Kaveri together. They shared the stage at common programs for the visually challenged and got to know each other. Now they have decided to share their life too.
Project Vision, a non profit organization that started in 2013 to promote eye donations and to help permanently visually challenged persons to have a better life, took the responsibility to organise the wedding. About 400 persons mostly friends and relatives of Suresh and Kaveri came to the wedding.
From invitations, to food and basic necessities for starting a family were provided to them through help raised by Project Vision.
Freedom fighter Doreswamy was present on the occasion as chief guest to bless the marriage. He said that the word disabled must not be used any more and some of them are more abled than the normal persons.
Doreswamy signed up the forms to donate his whole body for research and study after his death with Project Vision .
Project Vision was started in 2013 under the leadership of Fr George Kannanthanam, Claretian priest to promote eye donation as a movement. Already 30,000 persons have signed with Project Vision to donate their eyes after death. About 1000 persons have joined as Vision Ambassadors to promote the movement in various places. Various programs of rehabilitation are undertaken like education of blind children and now family rehabilitation.
India has 15 million visually challenged persons which is more than one third of the world blind population. India needs about 150,000 corea transplants annually, but is now able to get only about 40,000 from eye donations. That was the reason why Project Vision was started to promote eye donation as a movement in the country with all different sections and groups and religions of people.
One can pledge your eyes by visiting the website: www.theprojectvision.org
Fr George Kannanthanam
Director, The Project Vision
9845811515