World Braille Day
By Our Reporter
Shillong, Jan 4: Inclusive Education is something that continues to exist only on record as the beneficiaries are being denied the advantages as mandated by the state government, said Jitendra Dkhar, Managing Director, Blind Lead Trust (BLT).
Speaking to The Shillong Times off-stage following the celebration marking World Braille Day held at National Institute of Technology (NIT) Meghalaya here on Thursday, Dkhar said that the term inclusive education only remains in the papers since none of the institutions are actually implementing it.
“The Government is talking about inclusive education to allow the visually impaired students to join the mainstream education. But such things are not being implemented to benefit the visually impaired students,” Dkhar said.
He urged the state government to establish protocols mandating educational institutions to enroll visually impaired students. According to him, these institutions should employ teachers professionally trained in using braille to instruct visually impaired students.
“I know some principals and head teachers have undergone Braille training, but aren’t applying their skills to teach visually impaired students. Most have undergone training merely to obtain certificates,” Dkhar stated.
Meanwhile, he emphasized that using Braille would empower visually impaired individuals to earn a livelihood and be independent. To achieve this, he emphasized the need for facilities to provide training or coaching.
He added that their growth depends on technological intervention for skill development in areas like web development and programming.
Dkhar commended NIT Meghalaya for taking the initiative to celebrate this significant day. “Today marks the first recognition by the United Nations to encourage the use of Braille among visually impaired people. We understand the importance of Braille for pursuing higher studies and securing proper jobs,” Dkhar noted.
During the event, Prof. Mahanta and Lyngwa shared their insights on promoting education and research in advanced technologies for the Braille System and its role in benefiting the visually impaired community. Prof. Mahanta suggested signing an MoU with BLT, Shillong, for projects developing Braille for integrating smart products for individuals with visual challenges.
World Braille Day, dedicated to Louis Braille’s birthday, recognizes his revolutionary contribution to reading and writing for individuals with visual impairments. The United Nations designates January 4 as World Braille Day. Braille, a universal code, facilitates writing and reading in various languages. National Institutes and Composite Regional Centres under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities are organizing programs across the country to highlight the significance of Braille and promote its usage for enhanced accessibility. Braille empowers individuals to access information, pursue education, and actively participate in society, emphasizing the need for efforts to ensure accessibility for everyone, regardless of visual abilities.