The girls at Indore's Mahesh Blind Welfare Association, are making alluring rakhis ahead of Raksha Bandhan, after receiving special training for it. These handmade rakhis are sold online, at schools and are also bought by donors. In a bid to connect these visually impaired girls to mainstream society, this NGO has been appointing coaches to train them in making handicraft items, for the past 20 years.

Rakhis in sync with this year's Independence Day theme

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The theme of rakhis this year is India's Independence Day, said Dr. Dolly Joshi, the Development Officer of the association. The training process starts by providing a sample rakhi, which the children are made to touch. This makes it easy for them to identify the material used in making these bands. Each material has its name written on the box, in Braille script. Through this, the girls can differentiate between various items like kundan, pearl, threads and so on.

Rakhis and other artistic items made by the girls were sold through stalls prior to the pandemic. Now due to COVID, they are sold online or at schools. Some donors also visit the place to buy rakhis from these girls.

Girls from outside the state part of the institute as well

The institution gives admission to girls aged 6 and above, from within the state and outside as well and here, the girls are educated and taught handy skills. The girls also organise cultural events by teaching garba, yoga and other things. Apart from rakhis, they are trained to make other items for special occasions as well like lamps for Diwali. The NGO claims that over 20 girls have joined banks jobs on probation. Further, the association is also known for arranging marriages for its pupils as well.