Som Bahadur Gurung, a resident of ward 7 of Sundarbazar Municipality in Lamjung, has been blind since childhood. Navigating his world with the aid of a white cane, he recently completed a three-day training course on manufacturing toilet cleaners and liquid soap.

He is not alone. Parbati Gurung from Srimanjyang in ward 3 of Dordi Rural Municipality, also took part in the training. Although sighted individuals often rely on visual cues, both Som Bahadur and Parbati have learned to produce these items using raw materials. They have acquired the necessary knowledge of the required ingredients and the exact proportions for each product.

“It is better to learn and do something rather than just sit idly at home,” said Som Bahadur. “This three-day training has shown us that we can work independently and earn a living.”

Parbati said that while it may be challenging for a blind person to perform some tasks entirely alone, they can manage with family support. She explained that by sourcing raw materials, measuring them correctly and mixing them in containers, toilet cleaners and liquid soap can be produced. “If we can manage some initial capital, we can make these at home,” she said.

Like Som Bahadur and Parbati, 16 individuals with visual and physical disabilities are now capable of producing these cleaning agents. The training was provided from Thursday to Saturday by the Nepal Association of the Blind under the ‘Action Project for Inclusive Development’.

Bishnu Pokhrel, secretary of the Lamjung Association of the Blind, said two representatives from each of the district’s eight local units had been invited to the training in Siundibar in ward 9 of Sundarbazar Municipality, but some local units did not send participants. As a result, individuals with visual and physical disabilities from nearby areas took the opportunity instead, he said.

Gopal Adhikari, an instructor at the workshop, said that making toilet cleaner hydrochloric acid, cleaning gel or paste, and blue colouring. To make liquid soap, one needs acid slurry, caustic soda, urea, salt, colour and fragrance. Phenyl (household disinfectant) requires phenyl concentrate. These are produced by mixing the ingredients with the required amount of water. “If the necessary materials are provided, blind individuals are fully capable of producing these items,” he said.

Rajendra Ghimire, president of the Lamjung Association of the Blind, told the Post after the completion of the workshop that the vocational training was provided to empower citizens with visual impairments for self-employment and income generation. “We cannot see with our eyes, but that does not mean we cannot do anything. There are many things we can do ourselves, and others we can achieve with a little assistance,” he said.

Prem Maharjan, rehabilitation officer for the Action Project for Inclusive Development at the Nepal Association of the Blind, said the organisation works to promote empowerment, accessibility and inclusive development for people with visual and other disabilities. It runs various projects and awareness programmes to improve access to reproductive health, inclusive education and technology for visually impaired youth.

Mita Kumari Thapa, head of the integrated service office, said becoming self-reliant and self-employed reduces the financial burden on families. Stressing that businesses must be registered before operation, she said the process is straightforward if the necessary documents are available. “Registration is not a problem. However, the business must be run consistently. Maintaining registration and renewals also makes it easier to access grants,” she said.

Bhesh Bahadur Paudel, minister for forest and environment in Gandaki province, stressed the importance of self-reliance. “Our friends with disabilities must keep their morale high. Disability is not our weakness,” he said. “We must struggle, work hard and stay committed. We must showcase the talents we have. One should gain expertise in tasks that are safe and accessible and apply them in life.”

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तस्बिर पनि छ ।

लमजुङको सुन्दरबजार नगरपालिका ९, सिउ“डीबारमा आयोजित सीपमूलक तालिममा हारपिक, फिनाइल र झोल साबुन बनाउने तालिम लि“दै दृष्टिबीहिन र शारीरिक अपांगता भएकाहरु । तस्बिरः आश गुरुङ÷कान्तिपुर ।