About Us

The NAB was formally established in 1993. The blind movement in Nepal started in 1987 when some students decided to form a unity to advocate for the rights and interests of the blind. After the restoration of democracy in Nepal in 1990, the group organized an effective movement to draw the attention of the government and the general public towards burning issues of employment and scholarships for the blind and partially sighted people. It was not only the first movement initiated exclusively of the blind, but also the successful one in achieving their immediate needs. Today the NAB is focusing on establishing local branches of the NAB, educational training and the needs of the scarcely attended segments of the blind and visually impaired population in the country - women, people in rural areas, the elderly, persons with low vision and young blind children.

NAB is a non-Governmental, non-profit making national organization of the blind. The central executive board of the association consists of 15 including three reservations for Blind Women members elected by the General Assembly held every three years. The national conference consists of (a) the central executive board, (b) district branch representatives in proportion to its general members, and (c) five nominated by the board among the devoted and committed blind members. NAB has formed sector-wise committees in the areas of Women, Low Vision, Youth and Children. It has 32 district branches with 2000 general members across the country.

Its Main purpose is to promote and protect rights and interests of the blind and partially sighted (BPS) people through lobbying and advocacy. Mainly, it works on the following areas for the empowerment of BPS people. Capacity, Building, Employment, Education, Training.

At the central level, Association runs computer training, music training, mobility, counseling, talking books, Digital library, Braille books printing, offset printing press and Women hostel. Association also includes insurgency victims in such programme. In this connection, we have given required training to some of the security personnel's for those of blinds acquired by the insurgency. Some of the examples are as under:

Legal Status

NAB has been duly registered with the District Administration Office (DAO) in Kathmandu (Registration No. DAO 320 on 2049/10/08 BS) and is affiliated with the Social Welfare Council (Affiliation NO.SWC 1037 on 2049/10/28). It is also affiliated with the World Blind Union (WBU).

Objectives

To protect and promote the rights, interests and welfare of the blind
To develop leadership quality and personality of the blind
To promote public awareness and advocacy
To establish and develop fraternal relationship with national and international organizations working with the blind and others.
To provide better academic and technical education to the blind people to make them able to access into the employment market as well as self-employment.

Vision of NAB

NAB's vision is a self-reliant community of the Blind and Partially Sighted (BPS) people in Nepal capable of living a dignified and productive life and participating in the national mainstream as equals. We envision a society where they will have an equal access to opportunities and will enjoy a barrier free social environment for development and contributions.

We envisage being a truly national and professional organization of the blind by the blind and for the blind, covering extensively the blind and visually empowerment in accordance with self-help principle. In this process, we seek to be an organization, which is well recognized for its institutional capacity to address all major issues facing the blind and visually impaired community and is regarded as the hub of the network of institutions committed to the cause of the blind in Nepal.

Mission of NAB

The mission of NAB is to empower the blind and visually impaired people in Nepal for achieving self-reliance and access to their rightful opportunities through the process of self-help development.

Values of NAB

NAB deeply believes in self-help and is fully committed to promote and follow it. In carrying out its business NAB will:

Act with honesty and transparency in providing services and managing relationship;
Create environment and process for mutual help to achieve self-reliance;
Promote and develop equality of opportunity for members, staff and other BPS persons;
Treat people with fairness and impartiality without any bias based on their political or religious belief, caste or gender; and
Strive for and maintain quality and excellence in performance and conduct.

Goals of NAB

NAB will seek to achieve the following performance results through its works towards the attainment of its vision and mission:

The rights, interests and welfare of the blind and visually impaired people are protected and promoted at all levels in the society;
The blinds and visually impaired people are able to use the basic life skills, professional competencies and their innate potential for sustaining a productive life and making equal contributions;
Institutional and other resources at the local, national and international levels are mobilized towards the sustained enhancement of the life and the work of the blind and visually impaired people; and
Institutional capacity of NAB for serving the target beneficiaries is continuously improved.