Visually-challenged students in the State can breathe easy with the Directorate for the Welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens reportedly giving its nod for printing of Braille textbooks in the All-India Confederation of the Blind (AICB), New Delhi,
The supply of textbooks had been hampered with the lone machine at the State’s only government printing press for Braille breaking down. The press is yet to resume printing as the machine remains unrepaired.
The delay in textbook supply had affected children in 34 schools.
Recently, books for teachers had been printed at Divya Jyothi Charitable Trust here.
The motherboard of the Braille printing machine was send to Norway for repair. It has been fixed and is on its way from Bangalore,” sources said.
The printing of some textbooks were delayed as the syllabi had been revised, the authorities claim.
In an effort to avoid similar problems, the directorate has sent a proposal seeking a brand new Braille printing machine costing Rs. 92 lakh.
At the same time, request had been also been placed for another Braille printing machine under the grant set aside for the welfare of persons with disabilities in the Mysore City Corporation.
When contacted, District Disabled Welfare Officer Balaram told The Hindu that efforts were being made to persuade the government to issue a directive to the MCC to release funds towards the purchase of the machine.
“With two new machines, we can print more Braille books, including general books. Printing work can also be outsourced to our press,” he said. “We are hoping to supply textbooks to the schools shortly,” he said.
The State has nearly 6,000 visually-challenged children studying in the schools and about 1,000 children under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyana.
