TIME-LINE OF BPA

Year	Month	Details
1947	October	Immediately after India attained Independence a historical meetings of a few leading blind persons was convened at Surat.  Mr. Jagadishbhai was a participant in that meeting.
1950	April	Jagadishbhai formed “Blind Men’s Association”, Ahmedabad as an independent Organization with no office premises and no staff. Jagadishbhai was the founder general secretary and Mr. Nagardas Arjundas chavda was the President of the Organization. Mr. Ambalal Sarabhai donated a house at Kameswar ni-pole to run the organization.  Aim:-The main aim was to get together and discuss about various issues related to blind peoples. Basically all members are meetings on Saturday and Sunday.
1952	January	Formerly National Association for the Blind was established by a resolution of   the 1st all India conference on work for the Blind held in Mumbai.
1953	May	NAB was registered under Mumbai public charitable trust Act-1950.
1954	July	NAB was registered under Indian societies registration Act-1860.
1956		Centre for Blind Girls was formed at Memnagar, Ahmedabad. Jagdishbhai was the founder secretary
1958		Prisoners Transcription Project  for Braille circulating library was started.
	April	Kanubhai and Bhadraben Joined with BMA activities and formed a trio with Jagadishbhai.
1959	October	Beginning of Braille reading and writing competition.
	December	State level convention on the welfare organizations Association held at BMA.
1960		Formation of Adult Training Centre for the blind. (Then president of BMA Mr. Jaikishna Harivallabhadas supported the idea).
		C.N. Braille circulating library opened at house of Sheth Mr. Indubhai Dayabhai’s donated house. (Braille Pustak Nirman)
1961	June	Recognition of Adult Training Centre for the blind by Director of Social welfare, Govt of Gujarat.
1962	March	1st land for Campus allotted by City Deputy Collector ,Ahmedabad at Village Vastrapur. -Additional land allotted on Jan 1966 by Ahmedabad Educational Society at nominal rate.
		Jagdish K. Patel attended the Blind Administration Course in London
1963		1st Campus building was built at Vastrapur with kind donation of Lions Club of Ahmedabad Main. Braille Periodical USHA was published.
1964	October	NAB Gujarat branch was formed in the premises of BMA.                              Technical School Started Secondary School for the blind was recognized.
		Jagdish K Patel (Founder of BPA) attended the International Conference of World Council for the Blind in New York
1967		1st batch appeared for the final examination for the secondary level.Music School for the blind  was established.
	August	NAB  P.N. Rehabilitation Centre for the blind , Opened at Mount Abu.
		Jagdish K Patel (Founder of BPA) visited USSR as delegate of Government of India
1968		Technical School for the blind was established.( Jagdishbhai convinced the Director Technical Education, for the 1st time, to recognize technical courses for the blind.)
1969		Regional Braille press was established.
		Jagdish K Patel (Founder of BPA) attended the Conference International Federation of the Blind, Srilanka
1972		Jagdish K Patel (Founder of BPA) attended the Seminar on Rehabilitation and Employment of Physically Handicapped, Germany
1973	June	Govt of Gujarat allotted revenue free land  to new Campus .(Which then became BMA Lioness Karnavati Hostel for the blind women)
		Archana Natwarlal Kinariwala Talking book library was established.
		Workshop for Adult training Centre was opened.
		Multicategory Training Center for Handicapped was opened.(it was in response to grant-in-aid provided by Ministry Of Welfare, GOI.
1974	April	Lock out of the Institute.   Causes:-Student, Parent, Staff and volunteers agitation against quality of food, Lower salary and general behavior of Jagadishbhai. Gujarat Navanirman Movement supported this.
		Jagdish K Patel (Founder of BPA) visited Berlin for International Federation of the Blind as President of National Federation of the Blind
1975		Beginning of Professionalism Joining of  Harish  M. Panchal (an electrical & mechanical engineer) as a workshop manager.
1976		Multicategory Training Center
		Higher Secondary School Started
		Research Division started
1978		Jagdish K Patel (Founder of BPA) attended the 5th Asian Conference WCWB Asian Committee, Hongkong
1979		1st District branch of NAB Gujarat opened at Rajkot district.
		A separate Fund raising Unit was established.
		Nutrition Project on prevention of Nutritional blindness was started.
		Jagdish K Patel (Founder of BPA) attended the 6th General Assembly for the Blind, WCWB Antwerp, Beljium
1980	19 January	Mr. Jagdish Patel was conferred late Nilkantrai Chatrapati Award by Andhkalyan Kendra and Lions Club of Ahmedbad by North
		Jagdish K Patel (Founder of BPA) attended the 6th Asian Conference of WCWB Asian Committee, Jakarta
1981		Integrated Education (I.E) was initiated. (Mr. Lalbhai Prajapati, Principal of Smt. M.K.Mehta School for the blind, Palanpur  sought advice from Jagadishbhai )
		Earlier Jagadishbhai had presented a paper on I.E. during 1980. During 1981 the Mehsana district of NAB initiated  integration education with 16 children and 2 Itinerant Teachers with the help of royal commonwealth society for the blind.
1981		Free Appliances for Disabled Persons Project Started under ADIP scheme by Ministry of Welfare.
	19 January	Jagdish K. Patel conferred R.M. Alpaiwalla Memorial Award by National Association for the Blind, India, Mumbai
1982	September	Additional land allowed by Ahmedabad Educational Society at nominal rate for construction of Studio buildings.
		Nandini Ramesh Gandhi School for Physiotherapy for blind  started.
		Priti Jagmohan Bhogilal National Rehabilitation Engineering Institute was started.
		Multy Bakery and Skill Development Unit for Disabled women started.
1983		Community Based Rehabilitation Project started for blind and Aged. It was first started at Dholka under close supervision of  Mr. Gautam Majumdar Funded by Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind (RCSB) now renamed Sight Savers
		Opening of Handika a marketing Outlet.
		Jagdish K Patel (Founder of BPA) attended the Asian Conference of the WCWB, Singapore
1984		Establishment of Employment and Placement cell of the blind and the disabled.
		Awareness Creation and Counseling Parents of Disabled Children program funded by UNICEF.
		Cama Computer Training Center for the blind was started.
	June	Jagdish K Patel (Founder of BPA) attended Valentine Huay World Conference in Paris
1985		BMA-IDBI Electronics Training Center Project started at Gandhi Nagar
1989		Urban Community Based Rehabilitation (UCBR) Project for Aged and Disabled started, funded by Help Age International.
1990		Chandrikaben N. Kinariwala Mental Hygiene Clinic was started and supported by Department of Social Defense, Govt of Gujarat.
		LCIF Professional Training Center for the blind built.
1991		Lioness Karnavati Hostel for the Blind Disabled Women opened.
		Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (Gujarat Chapter) started by BMA.
	23 March	Jagdishbhai conferred Padmashri Award from the President of India Mr. R. Venkataraman at New Delhi
1992	19 January	Mr. Kanubhai Thakar, Treasurer, BMA conferred R.M. Alpaiwalla Memorial Award by National Association for the Blind, India, Mumbai
1993		Ratanlal Lallubhai Center for Multihandicapped was started.
1994		Shakriben Mangaladas Lions Metropolitan Teacher’s Training Centre started with the help of Hilton Perkins International.
		NIVH National Seminar was organized at BMA.
	19 January	Mrs. Bhadra Satia, Secretary, BMA conferred R.M. Alpaiwalla Memorial Award by National Association for the Blind, India, Mumbai
	20 March	Jagdishbhai conferred National Award from the President of India Shri Shankar Dayal Sharma at New Delhi
1995	January	Asian Conferences of the International Council for Education of People with Visually Impaired (ICEVI) hosted by  BMA at Gandhi Labour Institute.
		Regional Workshop on CBR was organized at BMA.
		Lioness Karnavati Ruskhami Deepchand Gardi Braille Research and Documentation Centre started.
1996		NAB National seminar was organized at BMA.
		Parent Teachers Training Program was organized by BMA.
		I.T.I. Level Courses for the blind recognized.
		BMA Nadiad branch Opened
		CAPART Project Undertaken by BMA
		CBR Networking for SAARC countries has been launched. BMA looks after Western Region
	14 July	Institution of Bikhabhai C. Shah Memorial Award given annually
		CBR Network gave the charge of handling Western Zone activities to BMA
	3 December	Mr. Naresh Rathod conferred most outstanding Placement Officer Award by President of India, Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma
1997	February	National Seminar on Community Based Rehabilitation  organized by BMA. CBR expansion for Multihandicapped.
		Started Car Rally to create public awareness about the potentials of the blind and to develop the feelings of competition among blind Persons.
		Smt. Bhadra Satia, Secretary of BPA was conferred late Nilkantrai Chatrapati Award by Andhkalyan Kendra and Lions Club of Ahmedbad by North
1998		C.N. Kinariwala Unit for Deaf blind sponsored by Sense International. Opening of C.S. Somariya charity shop at Vastrapur. Blind Men’s Association renamed as Blind People’s Association Hand over the land by Bareja General Hospital to BPA on 10 May 1998 by Chief Guest Shri Jay Narayan Vyas
1999		CBR for Deafblind funded by Sense International. Satellite Centre for Multiple handicapped at Jamnagar, Dahod, Viramgram, Kapalwanj funded by HPI . R.C.I. Bridge Course undertaken.
	31 March	Jagdishbhai passes away
		Integrated Education Expansion to more talukas. Inauguration of Auditory Assessment room.
2000		I.T.I. Expansion. IGNOU & Dr. BAOU Distance Education study programmes   undertaken
		Maharshi Ashtavakra CBR Programme started to cover whole State funded by Dept. of SJ&E, GoG. Ankur  Project for the Deaf blind started at Idar & Baroda Bhoj University Special BEd course started.
2001		Relief work for earthquake  victims at Bhuj, Kutch. Assistive devices distributed all over earthquake area. Handicap International helped in developinh Physiotherapy Unit and Die Johanniter helped in  setting up manufacture of assistive devices unit.
2002		Bhumi Pujan  (Foundation Stone Laying) of Navalbhai & Hiraba Eye Hospital, Bareja
	12 June	Day Care Centres for M.R. and Multiplly Disabled Started at Ahmedabad, Jamnagar, Idar, Sayla, Dahod funded by National  Trust. Jasodagauri Thakorlal Shah Low Vision Centre at BPA by Mrs Aloka Guha (12 June, 2002) Shri Ramkrishna N. Parikh Day Care for the Multiply Disabled Sumeru Centre - Providing support services to children with Disability studying under integrated education & Relief and Research Centre for Children with autism, CP, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities
2002		Lodge Fellowship Braille Language Laboratory
2003	19 January	Inauguration of Navalbhai & Hiraba Eye  Bareja Hospital, Bareja
		Mental Illness Project
	9 July	Inauguration of Centre at Bhuj for rehabilitation of earthquake disabled by Shri L.K. Advani
2004	26 April	Inauguration of Savinay Rehabilitation Centre at Bavla
	29 June	Inauguration of  Annexe – Guest Rooms at Lioness Karnavati Hostel for Blind and Disabled Women
	5 May	Pooja ceremony of “Shri Dollarbhai & Ushaben Porecha Conference Centre for the Blind”.
	2 October	GSPC & IFFCO Barrier Free Access – Ramp for BPA-Prayer Hall Renovation of NREI Aids & Appliances Workshop
	November	Bhadraben passes away
		The National Trust has appointed Blind People Association as the State Nodal Agency Centre (SNAC) of the Trust.
		On the basis of the evaluation done by Assessment and Accreditation Committee (AAC) appointed by the Rehabilitation Council of India to rate its recognised institutions on the basis of their work and performance in the field of their operation, the Committee recommends that Blind People’s Association (BPA) be given Outstanding Performance Rating in the area of Visual Impairment.
	11 June	Inauguration of  “Sadvichar Parivar Eye Care Unit” at BPA-KCRC, Bhuj by Mr. Pradeep Sharma, District Collector
	December	Helped survivors of the Tsunami in Tamilnadu and other parts of India from individual donations and support from various funding agencies like financial assistance and materials
2005	11 March	Inauguration of Ashirwad Training Centre, Sayla
	30 August	EDUSAT Network
		New Courses For Visually Impaired – Diploma In BAOU, Ahmedabad
2006	31 March	Inauguration of Bhadraben & Jagdish Patel Samarpan Sankool Centre for MDVI children
		MSSM-Naaz Teachers Training Centre – Rehab University
	27 August	Jeet Mehta School for Children with Mental Retardation
	2 October	The foundation stone of Orthopaedic Hospital and  inauguration of the ENT Hospital at Navalbhai & Hiraba Eye Hospital Campus
2006	2 October	Inauguration of “Smile Foundation Barrier Free Access” Ramp joining buildings
2006	4 October	Inauguration of Assessment-cum-Sensory Stimulation Room in Early Intervention Centre” Samarpan Sankool” funded by Lodge Fellowship
2007	14 February	Foundation Stone laying BPA-AES Centre
	23 February	BPA has been conferred “Rotary Ahmedabad Award-2007”
	10 April	Uma Randeria Low Vision Class Room in the memory of Mr. Priyavadan Randeria’s  wife
	9 June	Indian Association of Visually Impaired Physiotherapists formed
	20 June	BPA has been conferred 15th Godfrey Philips Bravery Award  (A Silver Medal,Certificate and Rs. 40,000)
	11 July	Mr. Naresh Rathod, Employment & Placement Officer of BPA passed away
	3 August	Arvind Narottam Lalbhai expired
	25 August	Mr. Bharat Joshi and Ms. Abha Bhatnagar selected for MA by Roehampton University
	27 August	Inauguration of Dr. Jit Mehta Balshala Trust (for Children with Mental Retardation)
		CBR Project in 3 Districts of Gujarat for Sustainable systems for disabled sponsored by CBM India and AusAid
2008	15 June	First Inclusive Primary Schools with permission of the Department of Education at MSM-Naaz and Savinay Rehabilitation Centre, Bavla
	3 December	National Award for BPA for the empowerment of persons with disabilities
2009		BPA-AES A.N. Lalbhai Education & Research Centre at BPA campus
	21 March	Inauguration Design Unit & Park at BPA-Naaz Centre supported by Mr. K.N. Dhingara, Retired Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax
	25 July	Inauguration of Gatorbhai Himmatbhai Patel Orthopaedic Hospital,  Bidaj at Navalbhai & Hiraba Eye Hospital Bareja campus
	21 December	Mrs. Maliniben Shah, Executive Member of BPA passed away
2010	8 February	Inauguration of fifth Savera School for slum children at BPA campus a Vidya Bharti Foundation Initiative.  Mr. Haresh Trivedi heads this Vidhya Bharati Foundation
		Vocational Training Unit for Persons with Disabilities at Parth Indraprasth, sponsored by Lioness Club of Karnavati
	1 April	CBR activities in 12 Districts of Gujarat sponsored KOHA Newzealand and CBM
		CBR Guidelines Rollout National projects sponsored by CBM India and AusAid
		First ever Sports Room for Blind at BPA campus sponsored by Sawan Godiawala
	21 June	Visit of Rajyasabha team
		BPA has been affiliated for the central zone to conduct Computer Training on CC+, CCC, CCC+ for blind & physically handicapped by Government of Gujarat
		Dial up services in disability started in BPA with the financial support of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment through Ali Yavar Jung National Institute for the Hearing Handicapped, Mumbai
		ZARMAR – a Magazine in Braille published by HOPE Committee (by Volunteers0
		Dr. Bhushan Punani has been nominated as a Member of the Committee to prepare draft legislation in place of existing Act “The Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and full Participation) Act 1995 in Ministry of S&JE, Govt. of India
	29 August	Dr. Rajendra Vyas, NAB Hon.Gen.Secy passed away
	14 October	N&H Eye Hospital Bareja has been conferred Best Achievement Award for Highest Eye Surgeries in the District of Ahmedabad by Department of Health, Government of Gujarat
	28 October	Inauguration of Jyotsnaben & Dhirubhai Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centre, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad
	November	Music System For Workshop Trainees Sponsored/Donated By Tata Enterprise
	November	First Badhte Kadam
		Mrs. Nandini Rawal, Project Director of BPA has been reappointed as the Treasurer of International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) fro two years from 2011-12.  She is the only lady from India who is the Treasurer of ICEVI since 2002
2011	19 February	State Level Consultation on the proposed New Law on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
	June	PTT Thailand Table Tennis Championship – ITI students
		Pasti project started by Mr. J.S. Zala, volunteer
	3 December	Job Mela (Employment Fare) at BPA
	11 December	Distinguished Alumnus Award to Dr. Bhushan Punani on the occasion of the memorable event of Golden Jubilee celebration of your alma-mater  at Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
	12 December	Inauguration of BPA-AES Education Research Development Centre by the worthy hands of Shri Dharmachakravarti Mahamahopadhyay Shri Chitrakoottulsipithadishwar Jagatguru Ramanandacharya Swami Ramabhadracharya
	26-27 November	Blind Peoples's Association entry - "RUBELLA PREVENTION” for Design For Change School Challenge'11 has been selected among the TOP 20 Winning Entries. The programme arranged at the Riverside School, Ahmedabad