Baseline Survey 

1. Introduction

Inside Me launched the Holistic Healing Project - II (HHP-II) to empower blind students through skill-based training in Reflexology with the support of TFCI Limited (Premimer Public Financial Institution) under their CSR initiative. The project aimed to provide not just vocational knowledge but also psychological confidence, self-reliance and opportunities for sustainable livelihoods. This baseline survey outlines the students' socio-economic backgrounds, pre-training conditions, and the challenges they faced before the intervention.

2. Beneficiary Background

The initial batches comprised students from rural, economically challenged families across Jharkhand and Bihar. All students enrolled were 100% blind, studying at the Institution for the Blind, Amar Colony, New Delhi.

• Pardesi Kujur : Pardesi Kujur, born on February 18, 2009, is a 100% visually impaired student  diagnosed with Buphthalmos and Corneal Decompensation in both eyes. His UDID is DL0950220090013998. He hails from a humble background in Jharkhand. His father, Late Shri Ram Kujur, passed away, and his mother, Sumati Kujur, works as a daily wage laborer to support the family.

• Ritik Kumar : Ritik Kumar, eighteen years old a 100% blind with vision is class XIIth student from Bihar. He comes from a modest family. His father, Deepu Kamat, works as a driver, and his mother, Gambhira Devi, manages the household. Despite being completely blind, Ritik is known for his enthusiasm, determination, and kind-hearted nature. Ritik is a slow learner and often finds it difficult to memorize reflexology points and their pronunciation. However, his commitment to learning and improving is commendable. 

• Shravan Kumar : Shravan Kumar, born on January 1, 2006, is a 100% visually impaired student enrolled in Class VIIIth at Institutions for the Blind, Amar Colony, Lajpat Nagar-IV, New Delhi. Originally from the remote village of Ghorighat in Pratappur, Jharkhand, Shravan comes from a humble background. His father, Kundan Chaudhary, is a farmer, and his mother, Veena Devi, is a housewife. Medical resources in his hometown are extremely limited, and the family relies on traditional remedies and hard labor for survival,

• Gulshan Kumar : Gulshan Kumar is a Class VIIIth student at the Institutions for the Blind, New Delhi, and the youngest participant in the Holistic Healing Project. He is completely blind and hails from Bihar. His father, Indra Dev Mondal, is a farmer, and his mother, Pramila Devi, is a homemaker. Coming from a modest family background, Gulshan has shown exceptional attentiveness, consistency, and dedication in art classes, which led to his selection for the Reflexology training program. 

Pre-Project Challenges

- Lack of Exposure : Students had no prior experience of professional skill training or public interaction.
- Low Self-Confidence : Most lacked belief in their ability to contribute economically or socially.
- Dependency Culture : Many students were conditioned to rely on donations, with little motivation to break that cycle.
- Absence of Practical Learning Tools : No tactile aids or structured vocational curriculum tailored to their needs.
- Limited Family Support : Due to financial hardships, most parents could not support extra training or career planning.
- Physical Barriers : Finger fatigue and lack of motor control posed initial hurdles in Reflexology practice.

4. Purpose of the Baseline

This baseline survey helps assess the starting point of each participant before the project intervention. It provides a benchmark for measuring future growth in skill levels, confidence, economic participation, and social integration—critical indicators for evaluating project impact over time.