National Association for the Blind India

What National Association for the Blind India does

National Association for the Blind (NAB) India, founded in 1952 and headquartered at Worli Sea Face, Mumbai, is a registered charitable society (under the Societies Registration Act 1958 and the Public Trust Act 1959) operating as India's largest voluntary organization in the disability sector serving visually impaired individuals. The organization delivers a lifecycle portfolio spanning prevention of blindness, early intervention (NAB Mata Lachmi Nursery, est. 1969), inclusive education (54 special educators across 8 states in 2024-25), Braille production at NAB Sir Jamshedji Duggan Braille Press (~1 crore pages/year using three Braillo high-speed embossers), audio literature through the Talking Book Centre (5,711-book collection, 2,939 members), vocational training (NAB-IDBI Polytechnic, NAB Perfumery College), employment placement (Best Placement Agency awardee 2018), rehabilitation (Mount Abu Centre since 1967), women's empowerment (DWE), and elderly care (Lions Home for the Aging Blind, Khandala, since 1970).

The underlying technology stack centres on industrial-grade Braille production (Braillo 650 SW2, two Braillo 650 SW, Braillo 440SW, Braillo 400S), a thermoform Tactile Graphics Unit, refreshable Braille displays used by visually impaired proof-readers, the NABvani Android audio-content app, and third-party assistive devices distributed to beneficiaries (Smart Vision Glasses, Amazon Alexa devices deployed to 200+ schools). Specialized first-in-India programmes include the NAB-DVK Music Academy (launched November 2019 with Fermenta Biotech Ltd. support) and the NAB Perfumery College.

Revenue is not commercially earned but mobilized through seven streams: individual donations (80G-tax-benefit eligible via Danamojo-powered portal accepting 13+ UPI/wallet rails and 14 currencies), CSR funding from corporate partners (Reliance Foundation, ONGC, SBI, GIC Re, New India Assurance, Lubrizol, SCOR, Standard Chartered, IDFC AMC, UTI MF, IDBI, etc.), government grants (Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan textbook contracts, 30% vocational training reimbursement from Maharashtra, modernization grants for Braille Press), product sales (Braille books/magazines at INR 1,000-1,500 per book, audio calendars, candles/flowers/frames made by blind women via exhibitions and bulk corporate orders), professional services revenue from RCI-affiliated training programmes (TCTVI diploma, physiotherapy, acupressure, perfumery), recurring membership fees (4,550 members), and grants from international agencies (Sightsavers, Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind, Blind Foundation India USA, Jinendra Foundation). Go-to-market is community-led through 22 State and 65 District Branches, direct-to-consumer via digital donations, event-driven (All India Flag Day, Tata Mumbai Marathon since 2016, school engagement), and sales-led for CSR partnerships.

Name

National Association for the Blind India

Legal name

National Association for the Blind, India

Website

https://nabindia.org.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1952

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

NAB India is a 1952-founded, Mumbai-headquartered charitable society delivering education, rehabilitation, employment placement, Braille production (~1 crore pages/year), healthcare, women's empowerment, and elderly-care services to visually impaired individuals across 22 state and 65 district branches in India.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Welfare and Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability Facilities (623210), Business Associations (813910)

akta.pro primary industry

AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) & Speech/Language Therapy Tech (EDAFAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Assistive Technology (AT) & AAC Services (EDAJAKAF), AAC (Augmentative & Alternative Communication) Devices, Apps & Training (EDAKAIAB), Vision Assistive Technology (Screen Readers, Braille, Magnification) (EDAKAIAF), Assistive Technology & AAC for Young Children (EDACAFAL), Special Education & Accessibility-Optimized Media (UDL, AAC, Captioning) (EDAGALAH), Assistive Technology (AT) Access & AAC Access Support (OT-Led) (EDAKAFAG)

Keywords

• Disability welfare services
• Braille production services
• Vocational rehabilitation training
• Accessible education programs
• Nonprofit blindness prevention

Headquarters

HQ city

Mumbai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Direct donations from individuals for specific causes (education, rehabilitation, employment, braille press) and general/corpus funds. Online donation platform with multi-currency support and 80G tax benefits.
2. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Funding: Major resource mobilization through corporate partnerships and CSR initiatives. Companies fund specific programs and projects.
3. Government Grants and Support: Government support including reimbursement from state government (30% of vocational training expenditure), funding for Braille Press modernization, and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan textbook supply contract.
4. Braille Products and Publications: Sale of Braille books, magazines (Reliance Drishti, White Print), and general literature at subsidized rates. Production of NAB Dindarshika calendar.
5. Women's Empowerment Products: Sale of products made by blind women including wax/gel candles, dry flowers, photo frames, torans, diyas through exhibitions and bulk corporate orders.
6. Training Course Fees: Revenue from training programs including TCTVI (Rehabilitation Council of India recognized), Physiotherapy Diploma, Acupressure Course, and Perfumery College.
7. Membership Fees: Life and ordinary membership fees providing access to exclusive programs, activities, and community network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NAB India is a nonprofit charitable organization delivering comprehensive services for the visually impaired across India, including inclusive education, Braille production, audio book library, rehabilitation training, vocational courses, employment placement, women's empowerment programs, elderly care, and prevention of blindness initiatives. Operations span 22 State and 65 District Branches supported by a Mumbai headquarters, residential facilities, training academies, and specialized centres such as the Braille Press, Talking Book Centre, NAB Perfumery College, and NAB-DVK Music Academy.

Product overview

National Association for the Blind (NAB) India operates as a comprehensive non-profit organization offering a multi-faceted portfolio of services for visually impaired individuals. The organization provides healthcare through its Prevention of Blindness Centre; early intervention via the Mata Lachmi Nursery; inclusive education with 54 special educators across 8 states; accessibility through Braille Press (producing 1 crore pages/year) and Talking Book Centre (5,711+ audio books); rehabilitation through its Department of Rehabilitation, Mount Abu Centre, and IDBI Polytechnic vocational training; employment placement services (awarded Best Placement Agency 2018); women's empowerment programs; and specialized education including Perfumery College and DVK Music Academy. The organization maintains 22 State and 65 District Branches nationwide and has launched NABvani mobile app for audio-based accessible content. All services are coordinated from the Mumbai headquarters with the goal of enabling independent, dignified lives for visually impaired individuals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NABvani: Android mobile application launched by NAB India for visually impaired persons to browse and listen to academic, law, entrance exam books and other knowledge books in audio format free of cost.
• NAB Sir Jamshedji Duggan Braille Press (NAB SJD)
• Louis Braille Memorial Research Centre (LBMRC)
• NAB – DVK Music Academy
• NAB-IDBI Polytechnic
• NAB Perfumery College

Products and services

• Inclusive Education Programme

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration11 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecognized TCTVI (Training Centre for Teachers of Visual Impairment) - 2-year Diploma in Special Education (Visual Impairment). Examinations conducted by NIEPVD.
• Composite Regional Centres (CRCs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoUs with CRCs under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment for enhanced service delivery and government scheme access. Includes CRC Chhatarpur (MP), CRC Jaipur (Rajasthan), CRC Gorakhpur (UP).
• Government Blind Inter Colleges, Uttar PradeshcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Govt. Blind Schools in Lucknow and Gorakhpur for education programs covering 450+ students
• Maharashtra GovernmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssigned NAB Braille Press the task of supplying textbooks for blind students under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan; provides 30% reimbursement for vocational training expenditure
• Election Commission of IndiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEntrusted printing of Braille Ballot Papers, voter slips and ballot units for all Maharashtra constituencies for Lok Sabha and Legislative Assembly elections

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• American Foundation for the Blind (AFB): US nonprofit focused on research, advocacy, and services for people with vision loss. AFB actually donated the original Braille Press machinery to NAB India in 1958, making it both a historic partner and an international peer in Braille production and blind welfare services.
• Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): UK's leading charity for blind and partially sighted people, offering advice, support, Braille/talking book library services, and campaigning. Closely comparable in library/Braille production operations (RNIB's National Library Service parallels NAB's Talking Book Centre and Braille Press).
• National Federation of the Blind (NFB): Largest US-based organization of blind people, providing advocacy, education, and technology services. Comparable in mission (comprehensive services for visually impaired, advocacy focus, Braille publications) but operates at significantly larger scale in the US market.
• National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD): Autonomous body under India's Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment serving as an apex institution for visually impaired persons. NIEPVD actually conducts NAB India's TCTVI examinations. Comparable in mission scope as government-affiliated national-level institution, but operates with public funding rather than donation-based model.
• Perkins School for the Blind: Historic US-based school for the blind offering educational programs, professional training, and international consulting. Comparable in educational mission and special educator training (parallels NAB's TCTVI RCI-recognized program) with global reach in low-vision services.

Direct peers

• Score Foundation: Indian nonprofit working on disability rights, inclusive education, and accessibility for visually impaired. Runs the Eyeway initiative providing information and services to blind individuals — closely comparable target audience and service delivery approach to NAB India.
• CBM India: Christian Blind Mission (CBM) India Trust is one of the largest international disability-focused NGOs operating in India. Comparable in mission (disability inclusion, eye health, rehabilitation) and program scope, with similar CSR and government partnership models across the country.
• Sightsavers India: International NGO with strong India operations focused on preventing avoidable blindness and supporting people with visual impairments. Directly comparable as a peer funder/partner of NAB India (Sightsavers supported the establishment of NAB's Department of Advocacy) and operates similar programs across disability rights, eye health, and inclusive education in India.
• Saksham (India): Indian nonprofit providing services to persons with visual impairment across education, rehabilitation, and livelihood. Direct peer in the Indian context with comparable target population, service offerings, and donor base.

Emerging players

• Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC): St. Xavier's College Mumbai initiative providing assistive technology, accessibility services, and inclusive education support for visually impaired students. Comparable in accessible education focus but more technology/specialized-skill oriented than NAB India's broad service portfolio.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nabindia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Association for the Blind India