ORBIT workshop looks to private job orders to stay afloat

The light engineering workshop of Organisation for the Rehabilitation of the Blind in Tiruchi (ORBIT), has taken up contractual work for private companies to tide over its production slowdown.

“We are manufacturing 20 tonnes per month of A-type washers for a private company that is a sub-contractor for Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL). The contractor provides us the raw materials and also is in charge of collecting the finished products. This has helped us to streamline our work. We are hoping to get the contract extended for the next six months based on our current performance,” ORBIT secretary M. Subramani told The Hindu on Wednesday.

There are 40 staff on the rolls of ORBIT, of which only 20 attend the shifts regularly. Five machines are in working condition. The workshop sees a profit of ₹5 lakh per month, which helps with the running costs, said Mr. Subramani. “We have requested other private companies to help us by employing our services,” he said.

To make ends meet, many ORBIT staff have diversified into selling incense sticks manufactured by visually challenged workers. The sale proceeds are split between the visually challenged sellers and the helpers who accompany them.

“It is impossible to support a family with a monthly income of ₹3,000-5,000. That is why many young people from our families have stayed away from ORBIT, and have opted for better-paying jobs in other sectors,” said Mr. Subramani. “We have appealed to the Government to take up the running of the workshop and retain us on a regular salary, because at least 40 families are dependent on ORBIT,” he added.

Established in 1973 by city ophthalmologist Joseph Gnanadickam and a group of prominent residents, ORBIT’s management was handed over completely to visually challenged staff in 1989. Its Racquet Court Lane premises was once noted for training and employing over 120 persons with visual and physical disability. Today, only 40 persons with disability are on the rolls. Most of its projects have been assigned by BHEL since inception.