Blind Man Sang by The Road

Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. Md. Shabir s/o Md. Rajjak a visually impaired resident of Sihma village in the district of Begusarai, Bihar made a livelihood out of his vocal talents as a street performance artist. His art and zeal for singing was enough for him to make a decent living for his extended family of 7 members who were by enlarge depended on him. His singing could be heard with the rhythm of the moving trains in which he is used to commute often to perform and sing along with the beats of the mechanical moments of the train as it moves with speed to transport people locally (Samastipur to Khagaria) commuting to distant places from the districts urban areas to the suburbs. Just like the story of change that happened for millions during the pandemic, Shabir was one amongst those million wonders who adapted to the ignorant systems of the society just on the stakes of survival needs. Little did he know that how life would take a changing shift to his accustomed routine of a simple life.

With the Lockdown being imposed and no moments as suggested by the policymakers, he was unable to move around and make a living for his family. With the daily need to fulfill, little time he had to think of seeking the assistance of registering himself with PDS or getting himself a disability certificate. Suffering on a daily basis since the time of the lockdown without being able to support his family, FRT (Field Response Team) members of the COVID 19 task force of our partner (MDSSS Muzaffarpur) identified him as a potential vulnerable individual and family who requires the support that Caritas India was providing during the current health emergency.

Md. Shabir and his family were supported with 10 kg rice, 5 kg of beaten rice, 400 ml. mustard oil, 1 kg Sugar, 1 kg Salt, 5 packets of soya chunks (100 gm each) & 5 pieces of hand wash shop that would suffice for 10 days. He also was registered with the PDS system for acquiring ration in the days after that with the help of Volunteers of Caritas India who facilitated the entire process. Recalling the song from Anand “Kahin Door Jab Din” Md. Shabir has been able to see the lamp that lit up through the efforts of Caritas India who primarily reach out to such individuals as their commitment to the joy of service.