NHRC Chairperson requests State Governments to ensure
availability of 'Braille' books
Dr. Justice A.S. Anand, Chairperson of the Commission, has written to the Chief Ministers/Administrators of all States/UTs expressing the Commission's concern on the reported non-availability of books in Braille for the visually impaired students studying under the State Education Board.
In his letter dated 8 April 2005, he stated that the Commission would like to recommend that the State Education Board may take steps to print books in Braille and work out proper distribution systems so that books prescribed by the State Board (SCERT) are available to visually challenged persons at the beginning of each academic session and such students do not suffer any hardship on that account.
Justice Anand stated that the Commission is of the view that there is a need to ensure that the printing of books in Braille goes simultaneously with the printing of regular books. In order to ensure timely availability of Braille Text Books, the services of high speed computerized Braille press could be utilized. This would ensure education in an appropriate environment for blind students, in accordance with Section 26 of the Person with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
Meanwhile inaugurating an Outreach Training Programme on Disability and Human Rights on 23 March 2005 at Chandigarh, Justice Anand said that the society should change its attitude towards disability. It should, he said, talk of the rights of the persons rather than talk of welfare measures for persons with disabilities, which reflects a mindset of sympathy. He said that disability is to be tackled both at the medical and psychological level as persons with disabilities are not actually disabled but are differently abled.
The three-day programme was organized by the Punjab University and sponsored by NHRC under the CHRC-NHRC-IGNOU linkage project. The objective of the programme was to spread awareness, sensitize various stakeholders and build capacity of NGOs and academics in order to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
Nearly 50 persons drawn from teachers, students and NGOs from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh were imparted training. The programme at Chandigarh was the fifth in the series.
In his letter dated 8 April 2005, he stated that the Commission would like to recommend that the State Education Board may take steps to print books in Braille and work out proper distribution systems so that books prescribed by the State Board (SCERT) are available to visually challenged persons at the beginning of each academic session and such students do not suffer any hardship on that account.
Justice Anand stated that the Commission is of the view that there is a need to ensure that the printing of books in Braille goes simultaneously with the printing of regular books. In order to ensure timely availability of Braille Text Books, the services of high speed computerized Braille press could be utilized. This would ensure education in an appropriate environment for blind students, in accordance with Section 26 of the Person with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995.
Meanwhile inaugurating an Outreach Training Programme on Disability and Human Rights on 23 March 2005 at Chandigarh, Justice Anand said that the society should change its attitude towards disability. It should, he said, talk of the rights of the persons rather than talk of welfare measures for persons with disabilities, which reflects a mindset of sympathy. He said that disability is to be tackled both at the medical and psychological level as persons with disabilities are not actually disabled but are differently abled.
The three-day programme was organized by the Punjab University and sponsored by NHRC under the CHRC-NHRC-IGNOU linkage project. The objective of the programme was to spread awareness, sensitize various stakeholders and build capacity of NGOs and academics in order to protect and promote the rights of persons with disabilities.
Nearly 50 persons drawn from teachers, students and NGOs from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh were imparted training. The programme at Chandigarh was the fifth in the series.