Round Table India successfully concluded the 10th Edition of the Blind Man Car Rally (BMR), a unique car rally in which drivers were aided by visually impaired navigators. The navigators decoded the rally route in Braille script and gave directions to the driver. This year, the route was made more challenging to test and enhance the skills of the visually impaired navigator.
The runners-up team at the Blind Man Car Rally
The rally which covered a distance of 45 km in Mumbai on January 24, 2015, was flagged by Amruta Fadnavis, wife of Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, from NSCI Club, Worli. Ace percussionist Sivamani also made his presence felt at the event, where over 100 visually impaired navigators participated.
Taking the pole position was Chhaya Gandhi along with her navigator Nazneen Shaikh. The second position was claimed by Ambareesh Mandelia and navigator Kedu Wankade. The third position was shared by Mukund Ranganathan and navigator Dadabhau Kutte along with Ripul Bhimjiani and navigator Hussain. Finishing first in the all-ladies’ team were Deepa Damodaran and her navigator Vanita Pohar.
Entertainment was arranged for all participants at the BMR for the first time through the course of the event with a live show by standup comedian Huller along with a skit on AIDS awareness, performed by students from “Holy Mother English School”. This school is based in the slums of Malwani -Malad, Mumbai. RTI also organized a dance show by kids of their associated school – Balnandavan Nisarg Shala, Dahanu.
The rally, designed to create general awareness about the day to day challenges faced by visually impaired people, was infused with awareness about social responsibilities displayed through creative messages, including Sawach Bharat, Clean India, All Women Team to name a few. The funds raised through this rally will be used for various social causes.
Viral Kedia, Immediate Past Chairman, Round Table India, stated “Round Table India would like to thank all the participants and sponsors in making the 10th edition of BMR a huge success. RTI has been dedicated in providing education to the underprivileged Children. Round Table International started the ‘National Freedom Through Education’ initiative in 1996, impacting 4.8 million underprivileged children. We have completed projects with 1,799 schools, 5,050 classrooms with an outlay of Rs.150 crores, through the various projects we have undertaken so far. The success of the Blind Man Car, our annual fund raiser ensures the upliftment of underprivileged children through various educational programmes RTI undertakes.”
For more details, visit www.blindmancarrally.org or www.facebook.com/bmrmumbai
