2. Visually impaired students to get Braille Textbooks on time; 12 States/UTs assure NHRC

The Commission was shocked to learn that blind students routinely receive their Braille textbooks towards the fag end of the academic sessions and what is worse is that a majority does not have access to these books at all. Upon delving deep into the matter, it was found that the non-availability of book is because many States and Union Territories had not established a Braille press. In places where it existed, obsolete technology and an inefficient distribution system together make the service as good as redundant.
The Commission had written to the Chief Ministers of all the states requesting them to ensure availability of Braille books to blind students. The Commission recommended that the State Education Boards may take steps to print books in Braille and work on proper distribution systems so that books prescribed by the Boards are available to visually impaired children at the beginning of each academic session, at the same time as their sighted counter parts.
Responding positively to the suggestions of the Commission, around 12 states and UTs have assured it of timely availability of the Braille books. The governments of Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir and Manipur have initiated positive steps. West Bengal, Gujarat and Karnataka are also amongst those who have developed the necessary capacity.
On similar lines, the Commission is working towards availability of a child appropriate sign language to be used in the education of children with hearing impairment in the country.