Indian Americans Lead Initiative To Transform Lives Of Blind Children

CHICAGO, IL – Indian Americans are bridging continents and changing lives in rural India through the Ek Kadam Aur Foundation (EKA), a nonprofit registered in both the United States and India.

The organization’s flagship initiative, ‘Arunodaya’ which is Sanskrit for ‘Sunrise,’ aims to empower over 288,000 blind children in India, ensuring that visual impairment does not dictate their future.

Founded by Dr. Satish Tripathi, based in the Chicago area, EKA brings a unique blend of personal engagement and technology to its work.

The ‘Arunodaya’ program delivers individualized, home-based learning for children aged five to 17, often reaching villages with little to no access to specialized educational services. Mentors, many of whom are visually impaired themselves, visit children six days a week. Using smartphones, keyboards, and screen readers, they teach skills ranging from object recognition and basic English to math and independent mobility. As children advance, they are prepared to transition into local mainstream schools.

Pradeep K. Agrawal, professor emeritus at the Georgia Institute of Technology and a member of EKA’s board, emphasizes the foundation’s 360-degree approach. Beyond academics, the program supports families in obtaining government disability IDs and social welfare benefits, trains school staff to foster inclusive classrooms, and works with peers to encourage cooperation and understanding.

The impact is tangible. One mother described her experience: “We had lost hope. But when the mentor started coming to our home, and my son started reading and speaking using the phone… it was like seeing sunrise after years of darkness.”

Since 2015, EKA has trained over 740 children across eight Indian states, including Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Andhra Pradesh. One hundred eighty-eight students have graduated from Phase 2 and continue their studies in mainstream and specialized schools. The foundation employs more than 200 teachers, 25 of whom are blind, serving as living proof of opportunity and empowerment.

Recognition of EKA’s work came in September 2024 when it was awarded Best NGO in the Field of Education at the Social Impact Conference in New Delhi.

For Indian Americans, the foundation offers a tangible way to give back, whether by sponsoring a child’s learning, supporting mentor training, or funding accessible digital tools.

Through ‘Arunodaya,’ EKA is not just teaching children, it is opening doors, breaking isolation, and creating pathways to independence, one sunrise at a time. For more: https://www.ekkadamaur.org/