Ms. Pon Meenakshi – A Decade of Determination
In a world that often rushes by, rarely pausing to look back, Ms. Pon Meenakshi stands out as a testament to what steadfast commitment, empathy, and quiet resolve can achieve. For over one and half decades now, she has been the invisible force holding together the hopes and dreams of hundreds of visually impaired students in Coimbatore.
Her journey began in 2010 with something simple, yet powerful—being a scribe. Alongside a small group of dedicated volunteers, she helped visually impaired students write their exams. The spark that lit during those early days gradually grew into an unwavering flame, and soon she became a cornerstone of Help the Blind Foundation (HTBF)’s Coimbatore chapter.
Introduced to HTBF through our trustee Mr. Sivaji Rao, Meenakshi ma’am quickly became an indispensable part of our family. With her deep understanding of the challenges faced by visually impaired students in the region, she helped HTBF expand its scholarship and training programs across Coimbatore. What began as a few scholarships for hostel students soon grew into a structured support system encompassing day scholars, skill development workshops, and employment readiness programs.
She recalls a turning point in her volunteering journey—a time when students would approach her and say they hadn’t received their hall tickets because their college fees hadn’t been paid. “We can’t just say it’s okay and move on,” she said. “So me and one or two other volunteers used to pay from our own savings. But how many could we help like that?”
HTBF’s arrival was, in her words, “a win-win situation.” We brought in structured scholarships and she brought her ground-level insight and commitment. Together, we created a change that was tangible and lasting.
In 2019, when Mr. Sivaji Rao facilitated a collaboration with Enable India, a computer skills awareness session lit a spark among the students. The enthusiasm led to the establishment of the EMET (Empowerment through Mobility, Education, and Training) program in Coimbatore. With trainers like Mr. Jagan and Ms. Ambika, and later Dharni who joined as a computer trainer, Meenakshi ma’am played an instrumental role in launching and supporting the initiative.
But her contributions go beyond coordination and logistics. She sits with the students, reads out study material, helps them prepare for competitive exams, and still occasionally dons the role of a scribe. She dreams of a day when all the students will be writing their own exams using laptops, powered by the very skills she helped them acquire.
When asked about her decade-long journey with HTBF, she reflects with pride and humility. “Each batch is different. When two or three students in a batch are focused, the rest follow. It’s a joy to see that transformation.” She speaks fondly of former students like Parthiban, now working with Canara Bank, and Sheela, who moved from a different district to study in Coimbatore thanks to an HTBF scholarship, and now works at a bank.
Her voice catches when she says, “These students remind us that it’s all worth it. Not me, but the efforts of all the trustees and volunteers are justified when we hear such stories.”
Despite doing so much, she remains profoundly humble. “I want to do more, but somehow, with all my engagements, I feel I’m not doing enough,” she says, brushing off a decade of impactful service with characteristic grace.
Her parting words leave us deeply moved: “This journey has been very, very satisfying. Not just because we’re helping students build a future, but because I’m part of a group like HTBF. Everyone here is constantly thinking about what more we can do, how better we can serve. I’d like to be with HTBF forever.”
And we, dear Meenakshi ma’am, would be honoured to have you with us forever.
Help the Blind Foundation is proud to share stories like Ms. Pon Meenakshi’s, which embody the spirit of service, empathy, and action. If you’d like to support our work or become a volunteer, write to us or visit www.helptheblind.in.