Hiroshi Fukuyama
Secretary-General, Overseas Program for the Blind,
Tokyo Helen Keller Association

The "THKA Scholarship for the Children of the Late Krishna Lal Mukhiya" (hereinafter referred to as the “THKA Krishna Scholarship”) was an international cooperation project initiated in September 2005 as a voluntary project by the officers and employees of the Tokyo Helen Keller Association (hereinafter referred to as "the Association"). The project completed its mission in September 2022.

Mr. Krishna Lal Mukhiya applied to work on the Bara CBR Project which the Association carried out jointly with the Nepal Association for the Welfare of the Blind (NAWB) in Bara District, Madhesh Province, Nepal. He was employed as a field worker for this project in November 1989. He was then selected for an Ophthalmic Assistant (OA) course in the Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University, a national university. He eventually passed the national examination, and was assigned to work in the Eye Clinic attached to the Bara CBR Centre as an OA.

The Association implemented the Bara CBR project for 13 years. When the support for the project came to an end, he decided to take the opportunity to go on the Baba Garibnath Dham, a holy sacred place of Hinduism in Muzaffarpur in the Indian state of Bihar, a long-held dream of his mother. Unfortunately, in September 2002, in the middle of this pilgrimage, he passed away far from home due to a heart attack. His wife, who felt pessimistic about the future, killed herself in June 2004.

The youngest of the four children left behind, Aarati, was four years old, who was sent to an orphanage with the assistance of the Bara Branch of NAWB. The THKA Krishna Scholarship pledged to cover the living and study expenses of the three remaining children until they graduate from high school. Later, the son, who did very well at school, wished to study in the science and engineering field, so he was given financial support until he graduated from a four-year university. (Generally, in Nepal, students can study in the humanities field at university while working.)

The Association’s work is strictly for visually-impaired people and cannot support sighted children. However, since the Scholarship is a voluntary initiative, there are limits when it comes to sending money to Nepal or entering into contracts. Therefore, we exchanged a Memorandum of Understanding with the NAWB agreeing to act as a proxy to send the scholarship money on behalf of the Scholarship, on condition that the Scholarship pays the entire amount, including remittance fees. During research visits to the area, we checked up on their school enrollment status and progress, guaranteeing the progress of the project.

The current situation of the four Mukhiya siblings
Mrs. Archana Mukhiya is the eldest daughter, aged 24. She has been working as a Braille translator at the Braille Printing House of NAWB. After graduating from high school, in August 2022, she completed her Bachelor of Business Studies at Milestone International College in Lalitpur. In November 2022, she married Mr. Jitendra Mukhiya, a Nepal National Cricket Player.

Mr. Roshan Mukhiya, the son, aged 23. In September 2022, he completed his Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and Information Technology at Samajik College in Bhaktapur. He is currently working for an Information and Technology Company in the day shift. He received the Krishna Scholarship until graduating from college, as he was the last remaining Krishna Scholar.

Miss Puja Mukhiya, the second daughter, aged 21. She is currently enrolled as a third-year student in the Bachelor of Business Administration at the Ritz College of Engineering and Management in Lalitpur. She is also working for an accounting role at a medical supplies company.

Miss Aarati Mukhiya, the third daughter, aged 20. She is a second-year student in the hotel management course in the high school division of Kumari Academy in Kathmandu. She grew up in an orphanage supported by the international NGO "Amics del Nepal," which has its headquarters in Barcelona. Currently, she is living in a private women's dormitory.