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Daughter of a sales-worker in Mithaiwala, a good-old sweet shop in Telanagana, Indu lived in a predominantly sighted world with peers, friends and family keen to tell her “ what she could not do.”
Since birth, Indu suffered from an eye-disorder, which made one of her eyes go vision-less. “Completing regular school and college with other peers made me feel how different I am” Being exposed to the negative representations of disability by peers and family, she was often made to focus on limitations. “My parents encountered comments from acquaintances on catering to a child who was completely dependent on them.” Raised in a very privilege- financial set-up, Indu was also aware of the budget-permits for higher-education for a visually-impaired.
Growing up with a range of tools, equipment, mobility aids and concerns that people think she needed, this 21 year-old proved a stubborn revolt. “If people called me different, it was time I show them how different I was.” Indu enrolled for a three-month advanced smart-employability training from Anudip Skills & Career Development Centre, Telangana alongside her sighted peers. Anudip is one of the top NGOs in India working also for women. She said, “My objective was to learn and be as competent as my other class-mates were.”- recalls Indu determining “youth with eye deficiencies like us can also perform in mainstream educational system.”
4 months later, she completes her blended learning classes to appear for the placements offered by ANUDIP. Within 10 days of their on-campus placement interviews, Indu was one of among top 5 students to be shortlisted. “I am employed at HSBC as an AML analyst, which is one of the important functions analyzing and monitoring financial activities.” Working for a corporate with such a diverse workforce makes Indu feel “included and important.”
She assures. “There were days when people told me I will not be able to do it and now there are days they come to me to know how to do it.” – marks Indu- on how perception changes.
This is power of diversity and inclusion. Click here to hear her say!
