SRINAGAR: The government has said that it has taken steps to strengthen Braille literacy and accessibility for visually impaired individuals in India through various initiatives.
According to information provided in the Lok Sabha by Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment B L Verma, the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD), under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), is leading efforts to integrate Braille into mainstream education. A Universal Design Centre for Reading is being set up in collaboration with the National Book Trust to improve Braille educational materials and provide training for teachers.
The government has stated that the Financial Support for Development of Accessible Learning Materials (DALM Project), formerly known as the Braille Press Project, has provided free accessible learning materials to 1,63,390 students since 2014. The project includes the establishment and modernisation of Braille presses, Talking Book Studios, and Digital Book Production Centres. Under the Assistance to Persons with Disabilities (ADIP) Scheme, 50,457 visually impaired individuals have reportedly received Braille script equipment in the last three years.
In skill development, the government has said that 157 visually impaired persons and 29 persons with low vision have completed training under the National Action Plan for Skill Development of PwDs, with 144 visually impaired individuals and 10 persons with low vision currently undergoing training. The DEPwD has also issued guidelines for identifying and reserving posts for persons with benchmark disabilities, including visual impairments, in central government establishments.
To further enhance Braille literacy, the government has said that it has launched initiatives such as assistive technology rooms, short-term specialised training programmes, awareness campaigns, and skill development courses in fields like data entry and computer programming. The NIEPVD has released a ‘Manual on Bharati Braille’ and ‘A Standard Bharati Braille Code’ to standardise Braille usage across India.
The government has reported that Braille teaching has been integrated into special education, school education, and skill development programmes, benefiting 566 students across various educational and training levels.
