Blind Foundation for India Holds Musical Evening Fundraiser

                                   NAPERVILLE,Illinois



The Blind Foundation for India (BFI) organized a fundraising musical evening at Avery Coonley School’s Performing Arts Center here June 25 to create awareness about blind people in India.

Over 180 people enjoyed the musical evening with melodious songs by Dr. Dipak Shah and Dr. Sheela Shah.


Young artists from the Soorya Dance School of Northbrook gave enchanting performances to enthrall the audience, and Hitesh Master from Sa Re Ga Ma Orchestra kept the crowd engaged throughout the evening.


Dr. Rajendra Dave and Dr. Kumar Moolayil served as emcees for the event, during which BFI raised over $13,000 to be used to fund a medical van in India.


Dr. Manu Vora, president of BFI, highlighted the plight of over 15 million blind people in India which constitutes one out of every three blind person in the world.


He also shared the exponential power of prevention — $1 worth of vitamin A drops administered from age four to six prevents a child from going blind. In India a cataract operation costs only $20, compared to $4,000 in the United States, which is 200 times higher.


BFI was established in 1989 with a mission to prevent and cure blindness and educate and rehabilitate permanently blind people in India. Over the years, the BFI team has raised over $3.5 million to examine the eyesight of over a million people.


So far, BFI has conducted over 110,000 free cataract operations, donated 104 medical vans to transport doctors and patients and distributed over 10,000 Braille kits to blind children for their education.


The current BFI focus is on prevention of blindness through Child Sight Projects. Over 500,000 children in government schools are examined for their eyesight and given necessary glasses, eye drops and vitamin A, and cataract surgeries are performed in rare cases.

For further information about BFI, visit http://www.blindfoundation.org

Source : India West , 2nd July 2013

Blind cricket association wins Special Award : Kathmandu

"There was a time when I used to cry over my blindness, but now I have a reason to smile. Today I feel like I have won another battle for my country," said an elated Major Pawan Ghimire after his organization, Cricket Association of the Blind, Nepal (CAB Nepal), won the Special Award during the Pulsar Sports Award 2069 on Tuesday.


NSJF awarded CAB Nepal for leading the blind cricket team of Nepal to the World Cup Cricket for Blind held in Bangalore, India in 2012 as well as for its programs for social inclusion of blind women through cricket.


Ghimire, who lost his eyesight in an ambush set up by the Maoists about a decade ago, played a key role in establishing CAB Nepal six years ago with the support of Pakistan Blind Cricket Association (PBCA) founder Agha Shaukat Ali.


Despite the tragic event in early 2060 BS when Ghimire was caught in an ambush while on duty at the Kalikot-Jumla Highway, the Nepal Army officer didn´t give up hope and encouraged other blind friends to form CAB Nepal, drawing inspiration after receiving a training from PCBA.


In a short period after its establishment, CAB Nepal has already organized four national and five regional tournaments for blind men. The national team of blind men has participated in three international tournaments so far, including the World Cup last year. There are 450 male blind cricketers in Nepal.


Similarly, Ghimire and his team started working on mainstreaming blind women through sports. CAB Nepal also organized seven regional and national level tournaments for blind women. There are 120 female blind cricketers in Nepal, the only country in the world with a national cricket team of blind women.


These achievements have made CAB Nepal popular around the globe. CAB Nepal has been nominated for the Beyond Sports Award to be held in the USA later this year.


Source : Republica , 2nd July 2013

Engineering college for blind groping for land : Hyderabad

The students are waiting and the software and syllabus is ready for the world's first engineering college for the visually impaired, but a search for suitable land to set up the multi-crore campus that could empower hundreds of special children is where the project is stuck.

An ambitious blueprint to set up an engineering college by the Devnar Foundation, with help from professors of BITS Pilani, along with 20 different digital and Braille software and initial funding arrangement is however ready.

Andhra Pradesh has a caseload of 10,000 visually impaired children below 10 years and only 2,000 manage to go to a special school, a scenario which reflects a nationwide issue, prompted Devnar Foundation, which also runs the world's biggest blind school to do more.

Since eight students from their school completed engineering from mainstream engineering colleges and one doing further studies in Boston, USA, Devnar's ophthalmologist founder A Sai Baba Goud decided to propose setting up an engineering college. Goud says visually challenged students often encounter pervasive and ongoing discrimination and lack of facilities. It is due to the same reason why only a meagre figure is enrolled in schools in the state.

Despite being visually challenged, such students are brilliant with recent instances of people clearing chartered accountancy and going for higher studies in the US.

Andhra Pradesh has the highest number of engineering colleges in the country with the total number crossing 700. But not a single college is customized to cater to the needs of the differently-abled.

"We need a small plot of about 2-3 acres. We have told the government that we have donors ready to help and also the faculty to teach," said Goud.

Goud said he is ready with the syllabus and required softwares and authorities have identified land in Mahindra Hills in Secunderabad and have intimated the same to the government.

He said getting affiliation from both Jawaharlal Nehru Technical University and BITS, Pilani won't be difficult. "But lack of land is the major stumbling block for the project," said Goud.

"Many students are enthusiastic and eager to study after intermediate but they have problems in mainstream colleges," he added.

The move had rekindled hopes of hundreds of parents who dreamt of seeing their sons and daughters holding the coveted engineering degrees despite their disability.



The Devnar School for Blind has been offering English medium education right from primary school up to intermediate, and has been shaping lives of hundreds of students who are challenged by vision loss ever since 1992.

Currently, there is not a single college for the blind offering courses in engineering. The school authorities say that if they start a college in Hyderabad, not just locals but also those from other parts of the country will get a chance to fulfill their cherished dreams.

"It is a big dream for us to provide some attention to thousands of children with astounding talent, but no one to take care of them," said Goud.


Source : TOI , 4th July 2013

HC tells Centre to include cancer as disability in bill : Chandigarh

In a judgment that would go a long way in healing the wounds of cancer patients, the Punjab and Haryana high court has directed the Centre to consider including cancer patients in the definition of disabled persons in the proposed Rights of Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2012, that is in the draft shape.

The directions came from the court headed by justice Rajiv Narain Raina on a petition filed by a Kurukshetra resident and brain cancer patient, Vibhu Dayal Sharma, who was denied admission in the bachelor of technology course by various institutes under the disabled category. The petitioner had cleared the All India Engineering Entrance Examination-2011.

Justice Raina said, "It is said that the law has always lagged behind and cannot stay abreast of the immediate felt necessities of the time. Once the law is enacted, amendments may take years. The most opportune time for knocking at the doors of the executive and legislature is now…"

The court observed that the proposed Bill sought to define a person with benchmark disability to have not less than 40% of a specified disability. It added that a person with disability meant a person with long-term physical, mental, intellectual or sensory impairment which, in interaction with various barriers, might hinder his full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others.

However, amicus curiae (friend of court) in the case, advocate RS Bains informed the court that in the United Kingdom, the Disability Discrimination Act, 1995, provided that people were deemed to meet the requirement of disability without having to show that they had an impairment which had a substantial, adverse, long-term effect on the ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities and included a person who had cancer, HIV infection or multiple sclerosis.

Justice Raina observed that though a great effort to replace the old 1995 Act had been made, it appeared to still fall short of the advancements made in the United Kingdom.

The court said that in view of the complexities involved in the process, it would not be appropriate to fix any timeline for taking decision by the Centre. "But would only hope that the matter is examined holistically for the attention it deserves before the new law is enacted replacing the 1995 Act to keep pace with the international conventions, United Nations declarations and charters on the subject to consider if it can be brought into domestic law and make it dynamic and ahead of times," said justice Raina.

Specified disability in Draft Bill

Blindness, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, chronic neurological conditions, deaf, haemophilia, hearing impairment, intellectual disability, leprosy cured, locomotor disability, low vision, mental illness, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, specific learning disability speech and language disability, thalassaemia.



Source :  Hindustan Times , 4th July 2013

Scholarships for differently-abled students from NHFDC : New Delhi

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has announced that differently-abled students can apply for scholarships under the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC) for the academic year 2013-14.

The NHFDC has two scholarship schemes, one offering 1,500 scholarships under the trust fund and 500 scholarships under the national fund. These scholarships are for differently-abled (40 per cent and above) students for pursuing professional courses.

Under the trust fund scholarship scheme, a student is required to send an advance copy online to the NHFDC (www.nhfdc.nic.in) and a hardcopy to the National Handicapped Finance and Development Corporation (NHFDC), Red Cross Bhawan, Sector-12, Faridabad-121007, along with requisite documents, including a disability certificate.

Under this scheme, total non-refundable fee is reimbursed as applicable to government institutions. In addition, maintenance and books and stationery allowance up to Rs.31,000 for graduate courses and Rs.40,000 for post graduate courses are also allowed.

“A one-time financial assistance will also be provided for purchase of aids and appliances for these students. This scheme is restricted to students whose total family income is not more than Rs.3 lakh per annum. Students can apply anytime online during the academic year 2013-14 [that is from July 1, 2013, to July 30, 2014]. Even students pursuing correspondence courses are eligible under this scheme,” said a Ministry official.

Under the national fund, 500 scholarships will be awarded to students with disabilities for higher academic, professional or technical courses at the Ph.D/M.Phil/PG Level/Graduate or at Diploma/Certificate level.

“Financial assistance can be given for computer with editing software for blind and deaf graduate and post-graduate students pursuing professional courses and for support access software for those with cerebral palsy. This scholarship scheme is restricted to students whose total family income is up to Rs.1.80 lakh per annum. Applications can be made online from July 1 to August 31,” the Ministry official said.


Source : The Hindu , 3rd July 2013

Panel proposes rehabilitation plan for people with disabilities : Mysore , Karnataka

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Study to be conducted in Mysore district to collect data about them

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The office of the Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities has proposed a rehabilitation plan for the disabled.

As a first step, the Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy of the University of Mysore will conduct a study in Mysore district to collect data about them.

Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities K.V. Rajanna told presspersons here on Monday that the modalities would be finalised soon as the district administration had promised financial support for it.

Besides looking into the social, domestic and other problems faced by the disabled persons, it would also study the accessibility of children with disabilities to quality education. The Commissioner said the Deputy Commissioner had agreed to examine the suggestion for providing housing for persons with disabilities in one phase. “Tumkur has done that. Bellary is also trying to replicate the model. In Tumkur, 11,000 houses have been built for 16,400 disabled persons.”

Mr. Rajanna directed the Mysore City Corporation (MCC) to develop a disabled-friendly park here with playing aids for children with disabilities on the lines of the one developed in Mangalore.

Demand

He said he would examine the demand for setting up a State-run school for mentally challenged children in Mysore. “The government will give grants for opening special schools if parents form an association and seek grants. I’ll speak to the authorities,” Mr. Rajanna said.

He said the government had been requested to provide a one-time grant of Rs. 25,000 to a person who weds a disabled man or a woman.

Blacklisted

He said 16 NGOs had been blacklisted last year and 20 NGOs this year for alleged exploitation of disabled persons.

Earlier, Mr. Rajanna reviewed the progress of the utilisation of the grants reserved for disabled persons in the MCC and the status of disability pensions in the district.

Disabled persons presented their grievances to the Commissioner after the meeting. Deputy Director of Women and Child Development Vijay and District Disabled Welfare Officer Balram were present.


Source : The Hindu  , 2nd July 2013

Argha system for disabled pilgrims at Shravani Mela : Ranchi

The 2013 ShravaniMela at Deoghar will be unique for disabled pilgrims, who always fail to offer prayers at the temple due to huge crowds. The district administration has developed a unique system and dedicated it to people, like disabled ones, who cannot pour water inside the sanctum at the Baba Dham temple.

The Argha system will be opened for pilgrims a week before the month-long festival begins on July 23. "Preference would be given to disabled pilgrims and women, aged persons and children," said a district administration official. Authorities have constructed a chamber outside the sanctum at the temple and a pipe is connected from the chamber to the original sanctum.

A Shiva Linga has been installed at the chamber (outside) and the holy water poured on the linga at the chamber will be carried through the pipe to the original Shiva Linga. The system is aimed to help devotees avoid suffocation during heavy rush.

Deoghar deputy commissioner Rahul Purwar said for the temple will now have a facility for the disabled and the physically weak.

"Separate queues and other methods of crowd management have helped pilgrims in the past, but the new system will be a blessing for such people," said Purwar. The system was tested during Ram Navami on April 19 and was hugely successful.

The system has been developed with consent of the Panda Dharma Rakchhini Sabha (PDRS), the principal body of the priests of the shrine.

PDRS has also said that as long as the water will go through pipes to the Jyotirlinga everything is smooth. During Shravani Mela, devotees form over 15km queues and wait for over 30 hours to pour water on the Shiva Linga. "It is not possible for a disabled pilgrim or those physically weak to do so," said Kaliya Panda, general secretary of the PDRS.



Source : TOI , 2nd July 2013

अब दृष्टिहीन भी एटीएम से निकाल सकेंगे पैसे ? Varanasi , UP

अब दृष्टिहीन खाताधारक भी आम नागरिकों की तरह एटीएम से रुपये निकाल सकेंगे। उनके लिए खासकर बोलती एटीएम बनाई गई है। वाराणसी में अपनी तरह का यह पहला एटीएम है। इसकी पहल गुरुवार को काशी गोमती संयुत ग्रामीण बैंक करने जा रहा है।



स्पीकर व इयर फोन : इस एटीएम में स्पीकर व इयर फोन लगे हैं। रुपये निकालने के लिए दृष्टिहीन खाताधारक को यह इयर फोन अपने कान में लगाना होगा। इसके बाद कार्ड को एटीएम में डालना होगा। इयर फोन व स्पीकर के माध्यम से उन्हें पिन कोड की इंट्री, हिंदी, अंग्रेजी भाषा, एकाउंट का नेचर, कितनी धनराशि लेनी है आदि जानकारियां ली जाएगी। दृष्टिहीन खाताधारक वहां लगे बटनों से यह जानकारी एटीएम को देगा। पांच नंबर के बटन पर उभार होने से वह अंकों की जानकारी कर सकेंगे। प्रक्रिया पूरी होने पर कैश व उसकी रसीद मिल जाएगी। किसी भी बैंक के दृष्टिहीन खाताधारक टाकिंग एटीएम का लाभ लें सकते हैं।


उद्घाटन आज ग्रामीण बैंक चेयरमैन एसएन त्रिपाठी के अनुसार देश में 64 ग्रामीण बैंक है जिनकी 17 हजार 864 शाखाएं है। काशी गोमती संयुक्त ग्रामीण बैंक पहला ऐसा बैंक है, जिसको यह श्रेय मिलने जा रहा है। पहड़िया स्थित शाखा पर गुरुवार को टाकिंग एटीएम का उद्घाटन यूनियन बैंक के महाप्रबंधक ललित सिन्हा करेंगे।


यूबीआई ग्रामीण बैंक का प्रवर्तक बैंक है। यूबीआइ ने देश भर में 100 टाकिंग एटीएम लगाने के लिए एनसीआर कारपोरेशन को ठेका दिया है।


Source : Jagran , Varanasi ; 4th July 2013

Students collect funds for Uttarakhand victims : Bokaro

It was an eventful day for the thousands of students of Delhi Public School (DPS), Sardar Patel School and Asha Lata Viklang Kendra in Bokaro.

While DPS students observed the valedictory ceremony 'Purogam' amid silver jubilee celebrations, the disabled students of Asha Lata Viklang Kendra celebrated the foundation day and hundreds of students from Sardar Patel School collected funds to help the flood-hit people of Uttarakhand.

DPS, one of the prominent schools in the city, witnessed the presence of chairman of DPS Society Ashok Chandra as a chief guest along with chairperson DPS, Bokaro Sharada Nayak; executive director, BSL H Bhattacharya and adviser Hemlata S Mohan. Students received appreciation for their performances.

'Jungle ke Raja', a song and dance by students highlighting the importance of saving tigers, got huge appreciation. 'Door Paharoon ke Tale' reflected on the human urge to be educated and uplifted thereby breaking the shackles of deprivation and was equally well received.

The occasion also witnessed free distribution of uniforms to the underprivileged students of Deepansh Shiksha Kendra. Special prizes were distributed among students who have achieved extraordinary feat in various spheres in the national as well as international arena. A cheque of Rs 5 lakh for the Prime Minister's Relief Fund was handed over to the chief guest for the victims of Uttarakhand flash floods.

The day was also special for the special children of Asha Lata Viklang Kendra. They celebrated the foundation day of their cooperative society with DC, Bokaro Aarva Rajkamal and other officers. Cultural programmes performed by the students enthralled everyone present there. Chief guest Rajkamal distributed dividend among 51 members of the society which their society has earned in a year for running a milk booth.

Rajkamal said these children have inspired him. Nine disabled students of this school have passed Class X this year with first division marks. This apart, the students of Sardar Patel School spend their day collecting funds for Uttarakhand flash flood victims.

Suresh Kumar, general secretary of the school, said the students have done a noble work by helping the victims. They got good response from the residents. The money collected would be deposited to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.


Source : TOI , 3rd July 2013 

Disabled children must have say in schemes: UNICEF : Chennai

This year, UNICEF’s State of the World’s Children Report has called on nations to set targets to include children with disabilities in the mainstream.

India, which has signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Optional Protocol,now needs to promote home-based care, provideservicesfor children with disabilities and end institutionalisation, stated the report.

The report was released by Social Welfare Minister B.Valarmathi here on Friday.

It said that a definition of disability should go beyond mere medical classification and incorporate social determinants. It sets a framework to ensure that health and disability are seen within the broader context of social barriers. Since functioning and disability occur in certain contexts, it should be meaningful to assess not only bodily but also the societal and environmental factors at play, it said.

The report is based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health of the WHO.

“We need to place the problem at the forefront and create a supportive environment for children with disabilities; an atmosphere free from exclusion, one that would encourage them to grow and reach their natural potential,” said Satish Kumar, UNICEF chief of field office, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. “Let us take the first step now,” he urged.

The report sought to ensure that children have a say in schemes that affect them.

Counting every single child with disability is very important, Dr. Satish Kumar stressed. One widely used global estimate puts the number of children with some disability at 93 million. However, there are varying estimates for the numbers in India. According to Census 2001, 2.13 per cent of India’s population is disabled, but the world report on disability 2011 states that about 25 per cent of the population in India is disabled.


Source : The Hindu , 30th June 2013

Carleton University Hosting International Accessibility Summit in 2014

Carleton University, with support from the Province of Ontario and the City of Ottawa, is holding a three-day International Summit on Accessibility in July 2014 at the Ottawa Convention Centre.

It is the first international conference to promote access and inclusion for persons with disabilities in all aspects of life.

With the major theme of Making it Happen – From Intention to Action, the summit will feature experts from around the world, providing a key opportunity for service organizations, governments, the post-secondary sector, hospitals, and others who want to review best practices and create action.

In particular, the conference will highlight:

• Innovative approaches to accessibility.
• The role of technology in contributing to accessibility for persons with disabilities.
• The concepts and collaborations needed to create accessible communities.

Throughout these themes, a special emphasis will be placed on employment. Also included will be an Avenue of Possibilities – an exhibit featuring some of the best accessibility ideas from around the world. Contact us if you would like to be featured.

So save the date – July 12-15, 2014

For more information, please go to www.accessibilitysummit.ca.



Source : Global Accessability News , 28th June 2013

विकलांग के घर में आठ माह में दूसरी बार चोरी : Delhi

शकरपुर इलाके में लूटपाट, चोरी और चेन झपटमारी की वारदात थमने का नाम नहीं ले रही हैं। आए दिन बदमाश किसी न किसी को निशाना बनाते रहते हैं। लक्ष्मी नगर निवासी एक विकलांग महिला के घर आठ माह पहले हुई चोरी की गुत्थी अभी पुलिस सुलझा भी नहीं पाई है कि चोरों ने फिर से उस घर में चोरी कर ली गई। पुलिस ने इस बार भी मामला दर्ज कर लिया है, लेकिन चोरों के बारे में कोई सुराग नहीं लगा पाई है।


रजनी गुप्ता जे एंड के एक्सटेंशन में पिछले दो साल से अकेली रहती हैं। वे विकलांग हैं और सरकारी नौकरी करती हैं। गत वर्ष दो अक्टूबर को बदमाशों ने उनके घर का ताला तोड़कर लाखों रुपए के जेवरात और नगदी चुरा ली थी। रजनी गुप्ता पुलिस के यहां चक्कर लगाती रहीं, लेकिन मामले की गुत्थी नहीं सुलझ पाई। इसी बीच गत 25 जून को बदमाशों ने फिर रजनी गुप्ता के घर को निशाना बनाया गया। रजनी गुप्ता गत मंगलवार को जब अपने कार्यालय से घर पहुंची तो ताला टूटा हुआ था। अंदर जाने पर पता चला कि चोर सोने की अंगूठी के अलावा एक लाख रुपये से ज्यादा के चांदी के जेवरात, मोबाइल फोन और साढ़े सात हजार रुपये लेकर चंपत हो गए। पुलिस ने इस संबंध में अगले दिन मामला तो दर्ज कर लिया, लेकिन अभी तक चोरों के बारे कुछ भी पता नहीं चला है। उन्होंने इस संबंध में जिला पुलिस उपायुक्त के अलावा पुलिस आयुक्त से भी इसकी शिकायत की है।




Source  : Jagran , 29th June 2013

Blind man incredibly solves Rubik's Cube nine months after starting 3D puzzle

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• Sameer Doshi, 32, was left permanently blind following cataract surgery
  
  
• But he refused to left his lack of sight hold him back from challenges
  
  
• The father modified a Rubik's Cube using velcro, plastic gems and Dora the Explorer stickers so he could use his sense of touch to line up the colours
  
  
• After nine months he has finally completed the popular puzzle
  
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  A blind man has solved a Rubik's Cube nine months after he first began the puzzle.
  
  
  Sameer Doshi, 32, who was left permanently blind by an incorrect dosage of steroid drops during cataract surgery, refused to let his lack of sight hold him back from challenges.
  
  So he set himself the task of learning to solve a Rubik's Cube because it was portable and silent meaning he wouldn't wake his baby daughter late at night.
  
  
  
  

  And for my next challenge! Sameer Doshi with his daughter and Rubik's Cube which he solved despite being blind
  
  
  He modified the puzzle using Velcro, plastic gems and Dora the Explorer puffy stickers so he could use his sense of touch to try and line up the colours.
  
  After nine months of perseverance Mr Doshi, an engineer by trade, has solved the complex, puzzle made popular during the 1980s.
   
  
  
  Mr Doshi, from Illinois, U.S., said: 'Solving the Rubik's Cube made me realise there are practically no limits to what I or anyone else can do.portant that people push themsel
  
  'I think it's very imves and not let little things like blindness get in the way of making the world a better place.
  
  
  

  Mr Doshi modified the puzzle using velcro, plastic gens and Dora the Explorer stickers so he could use his sense of touch to line up the colours
  
  
  'For my next challenge I'm going to run for and win a seat on the Illinois House of Representatives.
  
  
  'Many people have told me it will be too difficult to win as a blind man - but I solved a Rubik's Cube while blind so I believe anything is possible.'
  
  
  The Rubik's Cube is a 3D puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Erno Rubik.
  
  
  
  

  Clever: Professor Erno Rubik with his invention the Rubik's Cube pictured n 1981
  
  Originally called the Magic Cube, by January 2009, 350 million cubes had been sold worldwide making it the world's top-selling puzzle game.
  
  
  It is widely considered to be the world's best-selling toy.
  
  Since 2003, The World Cube Association, the Rubik's Cube's international governing body, has organized competitions and kept the official world records.
  
  The largest order magic cube is 17x17x17 cubes large and consists of 1,539 parts.
  
  It was created by Oskar van Deventer, from the Netherlands, and was presented at the New York Puzzle Party Symposium in New York in February 2011.
  
  A classic Rubik's Cube is 3x3x3 cubes large.
  
  Matt Valk, also from the Netherlands, holds the current world record for completing a normal Rubik's Cube in 5.55 seconds.
  
  
  Source : Daily Mail , 1st July 2013
  
  

85 blind persons navigate cars on Vadodara roads : Vadodra ( Gujrat )

The feeling of triumph and confidence was visible on their faces after they completed the unique rally that was organized in the city on Sunday morning. Eighty-five blind men displayed their sharp skills and talent during the Blind Men's Car Rally that was organized by Baroda Round Table (BRT) for the first time in the city. The blind persons that included women as well sat beside the driver in the car and guided him on the 41-kilometre rally route.


The blind persons read the map that was given to them in Braille language and gave directions to the drivers that included some of the top businessmen in the city. The rally was flagged off at 8 am and 85 cars rolled out from Kalali Road amidst loud cheers. "I can't describe the experience in words when I saw blind persons guiding the car flawlessly on the route. It was exhilarating experience and I hope to see many more such events in future," said Ajitsinh Gaekwad who participated in the rally.


The rally passed through Manjalpur, Rajmahal Road, Sayajigunj, Fatehgunj and Old Padra Road. "The route was perfectly mapped and I enjoyed guiding the car through the city roads. My confidence has gone up and I hope to participate in many more such rallies," said 38-year-old blind man, Upendra Raval. Raval guided Ajay Ranka, CEO of Zydex Industries, who was driving the car.


Fourteen-year-old blind boy Naman Shah, who was the youngest participant in the rally, too was thrilled with the experience. "It was as if I was driving the car and navigating the lanes on the busy city roads. I will never forget this experience," Shah said.


The rally was organized not just to display the talent of blind persons but also sensitize people. "Those driving the car developed a bonding with the blind persons and realized the hardships faced by them. Our motive was to become a bridge among blind persons and normal persons. Blind persons possess several skills but many of them are not able to find good jobs as the firms fail to tap their talent," said Amit Bhatnagar, mentor of BRT. He added that at least five businessmen were keen to offer jobs to blind persons after the rally.


Source : TOI , 1st July 2013

Baglung blind prepares to atop Everest : Nepal

A visually impaired teacher of Baglung district— Amit KC is to climb the Mt. Everest next year.


KC (30), a resident of Sarkuwa- 2 of the district made his plan public by organizing a press conference on Sunday.


If his plan goes successful, he will be the first blind from Nepal to climb the Mt. Everest. Earlier, American blind Erik Weihenmayer had climbed the highest peak in the world in May, 2001.


Amit said that he planned to climb the peak in order to spread a message that the disabled people can also do something if provided with an opportunity.


Currently, KC is doing physical exercises, and on to the mental preparations for climbing.


Earlier, he took a month long training of rock climbing in Pokhara, Nagarjun, and Thamel of Kathmandu.


The physical exercise still remains, but mental exercise has been completed, KC said, adding the next training will be for 31 days from August in Langtang.


He will be assisted by Pasang Tendi Sherpa in the venture. Likewise, the Inclusion Empowerment Centre of Pokhara has been helping him in his training.


He is also assisted by an US citizen, Cleff.


Amit revealed that the expenses for the disable persons are more compared to others. A million dollars will be needed to materialize the plan.


It is learnt that if all processes are completed, KC will climb Everest within 2014 or by June of 2015.

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Amit revealed that the expenses for the disable persons are more compared to others. A million dollars will be needed to materialize the plan.

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Source : The Himalayan , 30th June 2013

Maharashtra moves up in rankings based on school infrastructure : Mumbai

The state ranks eighth on the education report card despite failing to provide basic facilities such as electricity, ramps for the physically challenged and low strength of teachers, revealed flash statistics of the Unified District Information System for Education (U-DISE) released recently.

The state moved up to the eighth rank in the primary level educational development index, 2011-12 – a huge jump from its seventeenth rank the previous year. But it missed out on the top five positions because of failure to provide some basic facilities.

Theses rankings are based on several indicators including enrolment, pupil teacher ratio and infrastructure facilities among others. The survey is conducted by the National University of Educational Planning and Administration in 2011-12.

According to the survey, only 54.33% primary schools in the state have an electricity connection, while only 64% schools have installed ramps for physically challenged students.

‘’Though we have completed working on improving drinking water and toilet facilities, we are lagging behind in other areas,’’ said a senior education official from the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, Mumbai division. The official added that the government is working on these issues.

A major area in which the state falls short is the number of teachers in schools. While government schools are relatively better off with 53.33% teachers, unaided schools have only 15.22% teachers.

“The government does not have a checking mechanism for unaided schools and they have very poor pupil teacher ratio,’’ said Farida Lambay, founder of Pratham, an education NGO.

Though the Right to Education Act, 2009, prescribes a pupil teacher ratio (PTR) of 30:1 for primary schools and 35:1 for upper primary schools, around 28.33 % primary schools and 25.16% upper primary schools exceed the PTR.


Source : Hindustan Times , 1st July 2013

Equal employability

Persons with disabilities tend to experience high unemployment and have lower incomes in comparison to persons without disabilities. They are often relegated to low-level , low-paid jobs with little social and legal security or are segregated from the mainstream labour market, according to the International Labour Organization (ILO).



With this in mind, NASSCOM Foundation , in partnership with Wadhwani Foundation, recently organised a multi-stakeholder recruitment drive for persons with disabilities at Vocational Rehabilitation Centre in Karkarduma in the Capital.



Through this job fair, NASSCOM Foundation aims at connecting with IT-BPM companies on their HR agenda and promote employment of persons with disabilities, not on the basis of compassion or reservation, but their capabilities and qualifications.

Rita Soni, CEO, NASSCOM Foundation said, "There is a market failure, which is not simply an economist's abstract observation, but one which impacts real people's lives: employment for persons with disabilities is challenging. The NASSCOM Foundation Disability Initiative bridges these market inadequacies by bringing together progressive companies, training institutions and government service providers."


NASSCOM Foundation, the development arm of IT-BPM association NASSCOM, is working towards creating a sustainable ecosystem to mainstream employment for persons with disabilities and making ICT accessible to all.


Source : TOI , 1st July 2013

The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Visually Impaired Signed

The Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Blind, Visually Impaired, or otherwise Print Disabled was adopted by more than 150 countries at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Diplomatic Conference hosted by Morocco in Marrakesh, Morocco on 28 June 2013. The treaty will provide access to various books for the print disabled, visually impaired as well as blind.

Marrakesh, Morocco is an important place because at this place itself, the World Trade Organization was established after signing of the treaty on 15 April 1994.


Salient Features of the Marrakesh Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works for Persons who are Visually Impaired

• The treaty will address the needs of the books for visually impaired. This will be done after the contracting parties will adopt the national law provisions which will allow distribution, reproduction as well as making accessible the published works in easy formats through exceptions and limitations to copyrights.

• The primary aim of the treaty is to bring down the rate of book famine which is faced by the blind i.e., lack of the accessible books format for people who have print disabilities, while at the same time considering international copyright framework.

• The treaty will also facilitate assurance to various publishers as well as authors that the system of this treaty would not lead to misuse or improper distribution of their copyrighted works.

• The treaty is described as Miracle in Marrakesh by the Moroccan Minister of Communications Mustapha Khalfi.

• The treaty also provides for exchanging the accessible format works through the borders by those organisations which serve blind, visually impaired, and print disabled people. Sharing of the works will facilitate increasing the number of works which are available because this would eliminate plagiarism.

In all, there are 285 million visually blind as well as partially-sighted people in world. Maximum percentage of these people lives in India. It is important to note that merely 1 to 7 percent of overall published books are available in the formats which are accessible to them.

About the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Diplomatic Conference

• The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Diplomatic Conference was scheduled from 17 June 2013 to 28 June 2013.

• The conference brought over 600 negotiators from WIPO’s 186 member states together.

• The Treaty to Facilitate Access to Published Works by Visually Impaired Persons and Persons with Print Disabilities was convened by WIPO on 18 June 2013.


Source : Jagran Josh , 1st July 2013

Deaf lawn tennis player cries foul over SAI's decision

Sports Authority of India's (SAI) decision to restrict the Indian entries in the 22nd Deaflympics due to lack of funds has hit many players who have been robbed of an opportunity to represent the country at the quadrennial event starting in Sofia, Bulgaria from July 22.

One such case is Parul Gupta, a tennis player with hearing disability, who is on the verge of missing out the games.

"My daughter played eight nationals. She is playing tennis for the last ten years and her only aim is to represent country in an international event, but now it is shattered. She has decided not to play in future," Avinash Gupta, Parul's father said here.

"My daughter practiced a whole year for this competition but at the eleventh hour she was dropped," a dejected father said.

Sixteen-year-old Parul, who is deaf by birth, had won a silver medal in under-17 events of School Games Federation of India (SGFI) in 2012. At the National Deaf Games earlier this year, she got first position in the competition.

As per the entries for tennis, SAI was supposed to send four men and and an equal number of women for the doubles and mixed team events besides the singles' competition. But now only four players, including two men and two women have been finalised.

"I am willing to pay from my pocket, but at the same time I want every player must get a fair chance," he said.

"I made best of efforts to convince SAI about my daughter's participation, but of no avail," he said.

Initially SAI had to send a contingent of over 50 athletes in eight different disciplines for the games but during the final selection, the list was pruned to 21 members, including seven of the coaching staff, reducing the players number to just 14.

After parents of the athletes objected to the last minute pruning, SAI claimed that it was done due to "non approval of budget" for the players.

However, SAI officials could not be contacted for comment despite repeated attempts.


Source : Business Standard Via PTI , 1st July 2013

Batting for the Blind : Bangladesh

“Love is the most beautiful of all feelings, specially when it is for your motherland,” reads visually impaired Lata from the ‘History of the Liberation War’ written by Muhammed Zafar Iqbal.

She is able to read this book because it is imprinted in the Braille system that the blind can read by touch.

But such books are few and far between.

So as her fellow-inmates at the ‘Right to Survive’ Centre surround her to hear what she is reading out, the irony dawns loud and clear.

The visually impaired love to read because that it is their only way to feel the world around them but they rarely get enough to read.

At the 'Right to Survive’, with its 50 visually-impaired inmates, the arrival of a book in Braille sparks celebrations, says teacher Ruby Biswas, herself visually impaired.

“Four or five of them read the book together. But such books are very scarce,” Biswas told bdnews24.com.

Visually impaired children need Braille books that have texts in the form of arranged dots that children read with feel and touch.

But these books are rare and expensive.

The first Braille book in Bangla is ‘Charar Tale Monta Dole’ – a rhyme book for the children.

It is written and published by Nazia Zabin, founder of a volunteer group ‘Braille Corner’.

“There are a good number of visually challenged people in this country,” Zabin told bdnews24.com. “They do not just want to read textbooks. They are keen to read the likes of Humayun Ahmed and Zafar Iqbal.”

“But there is no real effort to fulfil what they want."

She said, ‘Braille Corner’, founded in 2009, have been regularly joining the Ekushey Book Fairs. That has led to some response.

‘Sahittya Prakash’ proprietor Mafidul Hoque was the first to come forward by publishing some Braille-method books.

Gradually Zafar Iqbal, Ferdousi Majumde and publishers like Pratik Prakashan stepped in to fill the void.

Zabin said the publishers are discouraged to go in for Braille publishing because of the high cost of production.

“Maybe this is why only two publishers have responded in the last five years.”

She said that her institution had decided to set up Braille-book libraries in some schools and urged everyone for help. “The government should also come forward.”

‘Pratik Prakashan’ proprietor Alamgir Rahman told bdnews24.com they wanted every visually impaired to read books. “It is not only our business, but also a social duty.”

“Other publishers and writers should contribute,” he said. “When I went to late Humayun Ahmed to seek his permission for publishing in Braille his ‘Botol Bhut’ (one of his children books), he agreed instantly. He told me to go ahead with other books as wellif I wanted to.”

Bangla Academy Director General Shamsuzzaman Khan told bdnews24.com that Braille-book publishers will be given special preference during allotment of stalls for Ekushey Book Fair.

The government does publish some Braille-system textbooks for state-run primary schools, but hardly enough in numbers. Many schools are yet to get these books in June, though half the educational term is over past.

But the worst is that the state is not venturing into Braille publishing beyond text books.

There has not been an official count on the number of visually impaired population in Bangladesh, alleged Mohammad Rasel, an employee of ‘Sightsavers’ – a charity institution of UK-based Royal Commonwealth Society for the Blind.

“However, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) about 15 percent of the total population are handicapped. Approximately 1.35 percent people in Bangladesh are visually challenged,” he told bdnews24.com.

The number turns out to be more than 300,000.

Syed Bashir adds from Kolkata:

In what could be a a bonanza for the tens of thousands of visually impaired whose mother tongue is Bangla, a Kolkata-based charitable trust has taken up publishing some of the top classics of Bengali literature in Braille systems.

The trust,"Third Eye" is publishing in Braille Tagore's 'Sanchaita", Bibhuti Bhusan Bandopadhyay's "Pather Panchali" , Jibanando Das's "Banalata Sen" Blaia Chand Mukopadhyay's "Bonophul" , Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay's "Srikanto" Satyajit Ray's "Badshahar Angti" aqnd "Gangtoke Gandogol" , Sailen Ghosh's "Arun Barun Kiranmala,Ashapurna Devi's " Kishore Bachai Golpo" and much else.

"Now most of the visually impaired patiently wait for hours for some of us to be free so that we can read from these classics for them to absorb. But when these are published in Braille, they can read it themselves," said Mahua Seth, a trustee board member of the 'Third Eye'.

She said many of the visually impaired have 'beautiful minds' which must be developed with creative impulses that good reading can generate.

"Ours is a major effort in that direction."

Social activist Shampa Sengupta says that an amendment in the Indian copyright act has made it easy for converting top classics into Braille.

"Texts are already available in Braille but what about a great beautiful world beyond the texts! That is what the visually impaired want to access," says Asif Iqbal, who lost his eyes to a genetic disorder but that did not stop him from emerging as a professional.

He is now HR Manager at Price Waterhouse Coopers.

Needless to say, the Bangla classics in Braille will be in a great demand in Bangladesh as well.



Source : bdnews24 , 30th June 2013