Orbit Profile
ORBIT - Organisation for Rehabilitation of the Blind in Trichy - was the brainchild of Dr. Joseph Gnanadickam an opthamolagist who dedicated his life for the rehabilitation of the visually challenged persons. A press release from M/S Bharath Heavy Electricals Limited, Thiruchirappalli informing that thousands of persons will get direct and indirect employment through ancillary units ignited a spark in the mind of Dr.Joseph.
He thought there is a good scope for the visually challenged persons to get a share of this emerging employment opportunities and initiated the idea of starting an ancillary unit employing visually challenged persons.
A core group under the leadership of Mr.S.Ravindran was formed and Dr.J.Rajasekaran, Mr.P.Gnanadurai Michael, Dr. A. Govindarajan, Mr. M.S. Ramamurthy, Mr. R. Subbarayan, Mr.K.Chinnapapu Mr.K. Raghunasthan, Mr.Kalidas and Mr. P.M.Shafi were the other members of the group. It was decided to start a Light Engineering Workshop with the primary objective of providing employment to the visually challenged persons and other physically challenged persons.
A team consisting of Dr.Joseph, Mr.S.Ravindran and Mr. P.G.Michael met the General Manager of M/s .B.H.E.L. Trichy Mr. V. Krishnamurthy and he agreed to extend his full support. Mr. T.B. Bharathy IAS the then District Collector, Thiruchirappalli fully conscious of the social responsibility of the government came forward to assign a land of about 1.5 acres with old Barrack buildings at a nominal rent of Rs. 1/- per month. ORBIT was formally inaugurated on 12th Febrruary, 1973 by Mr. T.B.Bharathy IAS. It was also registered under Tamil Nadu societies registration act, 1976.
The core team under the leadership of Mr.S. Ravindran was clear in their objectives that the unit will be run as any other commercial industrial unit without seeking any exemptions for the statutory obligations of existing industrial laws, to make it a commercially viable profit generating unit and it will not be a sheltered workshop. Workers were asked to come to work as any other worker do and go back after the work. Liberation with self-respect and dignity is our motto.
The programme and policies were formed on the basis of realistic appraisal rather than idealistic aspirations. A small percentage of normal workers were brought-in along with visually challenged and physically challenged workers to make the unit a commercially viable unit. The initial venture of Washing soap and Chalk making units were closed as they were not self-supporting.
M/s Bharath Heavy Electricals Ltd. extended its full support by nominating the Manager, Sub-contract to be a member of the Governing body which facilitated getting orders from M/S .B.H.E.L. Trichy. This close association continues till date.
M/S State Bank of India, Thiruchirappalli branch came forward to extend financial assistance at lower rate of interest and the Branch Manager was a member of the Governing body.
Skilled and unskilled visually and physically challenged persons are taken as trainees and they have to undergo two years training. During training period stipend is given to them. On successful completion of training, if found suitable the trainees are appointed as workers with a salary scale.
Members were enrolled on invitation and the General Body elected the Governing body every year at the Annual Generalbody meeting.
Workers were invited to become members with a clause that they will cease to be a member on reaching superannuation, termination , resignation or any act which is against the interest of the organisation.
Workers were given the opportunity to become the Office-bearers and governingbody members. Senior persons from general members participated in the Governingbody meetings as advisors and special invitees .
As the ORBIT has reached take-off stage of faster and diversified growth the Governingbody will consist of members with rich commercial experience which will ensure objective policy making body and clear long range planning.
A Workshop committee with representatives from the workers will give them an opportunity to share their views and this will help the Governingbody to get the right feedback from the grass root level. The workshop committee will meet under the chairmanship of ORBIT secretary who is the Chief Administrative Officer and will meet once a month or otherwise decided by the workshop committee.
ORBIT has 60 visually challenged and 20 physically challenged workers in Thiruchirappalli and 20 visually challenged and 5 physically challenged workers in Ranipet unit. Well motivated and totally dedicated workers with committed supervisory and office staff are making new strides and scaling new heights.
ORBIT has won the following awards.
- Best organization award from the President of India in the year 2010.
- Best Private Employer award from the Government of Tamilandu for the years 2001, 2006, 2009 & 2016.
- Best Subcontractor Award from M/S B.H.E.L. Trichy continuosly from 2003 to 2012.