Lighthouse for the Blind came into existence on 1st August 1941 started with an Adult Education Centre for the Blind, Later a residential School with pre vocational training facilities was introduced for the school going sightless children. Born of the Parents who are mostly daily wage earners struggling to survive in the slums of in around Kolkata and remote village of West Bengal and also nearing state of West Bengal, as a result the guardians of them cannot bear the educational expenses for their sightless children, although education up to Class — XII and hostel facilities are free for them. The Sanctioned strength of the students is (one hundred twenty seven) 127. At present 121 (one hundred twenty-one) Poor Visually Inspired Students (both boys and girls) are reading in the academic section. After the Sponsorship of the institution, State Government provides Hostel subsidies for the residential students of the institution. Besides providing general education up to class XII the institute so far been able to provide facilities of Pre-vocational Training to the visually impaired boys and girls at a free of cost in the field of Music (both Vocal & Instrumental Typing, Computerized Braille Transcription, and Wool knitting & Exercise Book Binding. Orientation Mobility, Daily Living, Physical Education).

Status:

Recognized by the Government of West Bengal, since April 1966.

  • Sponsored by the Government of West Bengal, since April 1990. (Under Mass Education Extension & Library Services Department).
  • Obtained Academic Recognition up to Class – X, since 2000, from the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education. (W.B.B.S.E)
  • Obtained Recognition up to Class – XII, since 2009, from the West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education. (W.B.C.H.S.E)

The mission of the Institution:

The welfare of the Visually Inspired Boys & Girls, in terms of:

I. General Education up to Higher Secondary (HS) standard (Arts stream with music).
II. Vocational Training and Rehabilitation.

a. Job-oriented vocational training (Computer Training).
b. Training Centre/ Assistance for Appearing Competitive Examination.

Lighthouse for the Blind – is an Education Centre For the Visually Inspired, established on the year 1st August 1941, sponsored by the Department of Mass Education Extension & Library Services, Government of West Bengal.

There are different charitable institutions and individuals working selflessly and contributing for the betterment of this institution by giving their valuable time, money, and effort.

Name of the Founders:

  1. Late Dr. S.C. Roy, Ph.D. (An Eminent Blind Scholar)
  2. Late Dr. Bidhan Chandra Roy,
  3. Late Dr. S.P. Mukherjee,
  4. Late Nirmal Chandra Chatterjee,
  5. Late Nalini Ranjan Sarkar,
  6. Late Tushar Kanti Ghosh,
  7. Late Aroon Coomar Sinha and
  8. Late Boron Sinha of Roypur

In the year 1963, the Government of West Bengal acquired the land and Building at 174, S.P. Mukherjee Road, Kolkata – 26, for the development of the institution.

At present, we have the following trades in our vocational training units under the industrial training Course.

  • Assessment and General Training,
  • Book Binding and Exercise Book Making,
  • Card Board Box Making,
  • Candle Making,
  • Repairing and Canning of Furniture,

Activity:

Academic Section:

  • General Education (Pre-primary to class XII) through Braille System
  • Physical Education
  • Music (Vocal & Instrumental)
  • Computer Learning
  • Pre-vocational Training (a) Book Binding & (b) Stitching
  • Daily Living 
  • Orientation & Mobility
  • Dance / Drama / Mimicry
  • Games (Chess / Cricket)

Activity:

Rehabilitation Center For The Blind:

With a view to making the sightless children (Men and women) as useful members in the society the institute opened another unit in the year 1976 under the banner of “Rehabilitation Centre For The Blind”.  At present about 10 visually handicapped (both male and female) persons are working in the Rehabilitation Centre For the Blind (A unit of Lighthouse For The Blind) on living wages in the trades of “Card Board Box Making”, “Repairing and Canning of Furniture” and “Book Binding”, etc. The said unit is run by its own income.

  • Honorarium per month
  • Lunch at cheap rate
  • Puja Exgratia
  • Old age pension @Rs. 500/- per month

Products of Rehabilitation Center For The Blind:

  1. Corrugated Board Box
  2. Candles
  3. Exercise Books of various sizes
  4. Floor Cleaner
  5. Hand Wash
  6. Dish Wash
  7. Honorarium paid to the visually challenged workers is minimum and the visually challenged workers have to live from hand to mouth. But the institute tried heart and soul to avail grants from different sources for the benefit of the visually inspired workers.

Managing Committee:

As the said Institution is sponsored by the Government of W.B., So the Government always constitutes the Managing Committee of the Institution for a period of three (3) years. The Present Managing Committee of the Institution, as follows:

  • Sri Debasis Kumar, Hon’ble Member of Legislative Assembly, – President
  • Subhajit Mandal, D. M.E.E.O., Kolkata W.B., – Member
  • Baiswanor Chatterjee, M.M.I.C (Law), K.M.C. Representative of M.M.I.C. (Education), KMC., – Member
  • Syed Samsul Arfin, Advocate, Calcutta High Court, Nominated by Hon’ble Minister-in-Charge, Mass-Education Extension & Library Services, Govt. of West Bengal, – Member
  • Dr. Piyali Sarkar, Ophthalmologist, – Member
  • Anindya Das, Guardian Representative – Member
  • Abhra Chakraborty, Guardian Representative – Member
  • Chinmoy Dandapat. Guardian Representative, – Member
  • Swarupananda Sen, Staff Representative, – Member
  • Suklal Hembram, Staff Representative; – Member
  • Prolay Ray, Staff Representative, – Member
  • Amiya Kumar Satpali, Principal, Lighthouse for the Blind,- Secretary

Sanctioned Strength of Staff Members of this institute: Forty-Four (43+1) up to secondary level both teaching and non-teaching. For Higher Secondary level, no permanent teachers have been sanctioned till date.

Achievement:

  1. Successful placement of the students of this institute in All India Radio / Indian Railways / Public Sector Banks / Doordarshan / Schools / Colleges.

Contact:

Lighthouse for the Blind

174, Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Road, Kolkata – 700 026.

Phone No. 033-2466-4227

Mobile No. 9748728408.

Email: lighthousefortheblind.kol@gmail.com / lighthouse_fortheblind@rediffmail.com