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Kaun Banega Crorepati 12: This contestant's visually-impaired father reveals he travels by train to Mumbai from Latur every month to remind officers about his delayed salary

This story was first published in The Times Of India on October 8, 2020)

The latest episode of Kaun Banega Crorepati 12 starts with previous day's roll-over contestant Asmita Madhav Gore. The 22-year-old contestant, who came on the show to support her family, was accompanied by her visually-impaired father. Asmita played the game quite well and with the help of four lifelines she was able to reach till Rs 25 lakh question. However, as the young girl was not sure about the answer and had also exhausted all the lifelines, she decided to quit the show.

Meet India’s vision-impaired photographers who use technology and grit to make their mark

Ahead of World Sight Day on October 8, we speak to photographers with vision impairment who use the lens to interact with the world

A strip of cloud cut across the sun, over a grand old dormant volcano in Mauritius — a beautiful setting for a picture, thought Pranav Lal, on honeymoon with his wife Sacheta. Being born blind has not stopped this Delhi-based cyber-security specialist from choosing photography as his hobby. Pranav is in fact one among a number of amateur photographers with visual impairments in India.

Gramin Dak Sevaks (Himachal Pradesh Circle)

India Post
Ministry of Communications
Himachal Pradesh Circle

Highlights of the advertisement are given below, for complete details visit http://www.appost.in/gdsonline/Home.aspx

Last date of receiving the application is 06/11/2020

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Bombay HC asks NCERT to verify credentials of experts before enlisting help for special education

The Bombay high court (HC) has asked the ministry of education and the National Council for Education, Research and Training (NCERT) to verify the credentials of the experts listed by the petitioner for finding a way to provide education for specially-abled children in over 900 special schools across the state.

Will I escape the dark alley and how I made peace as a covidsurvivor?

Hope you’re doing fine. Been a while since I wrote and am sure you know why. To say that covid-19 has upended our lives is an understatement. Like a boxer looming over you after a knockout punch, the disease still rages on, incapacitating and killing people, destroying businesses and leaving a scar that is unlikely to fade away.

Bookshare's online workshop - current Affairs - 11th October 2020

Dear friends of Bookshare,

Govt Eye banks to be connected with nat’l cornea distribution network’

Health Minister Banna Gupta today said that the state-run Eye Banks will be connected with the nationwide cornea distribution system so that other eye banks in the State, where there is a long queue of cornea-related visually challenged people waiting for eye transplant can get cornea. This will help make available cornea to the visually impaired in time and their vision can be restored.

District administration plans to establish a new public library in DLF Phase-1

Having renovated the old district library in Civil Lines in 2019, the district administration is now planning to set up a second public library in DLF Phase-1. From having a collection of more than 50,000 books for general readers, students and the elderly, the library will also have an employment desk and audio classes for the visually impaired.

Watch out for blurred vision, survivors told

Critically-ill patients who were administered steroids can be at risk of developing ocular complications.

Retina and cornea consultants have urged people to watch out for eye-related complications after recovering from COVID-19.

Specialists from L.V. Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) said that critically-ill COVID patients who were administered steroids to mitigate complications in lung and other organs can be at risk of developing steroid related ocular complications.

Postman and Multi Tasking Staff (MTS)

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS, INDIA
O/o Chief Postmaster General, Maharashtra Circle,
Mumbai - 400001.

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NHFDC: Steps towards Empowerment and Economic Rehabilitation

By Manjima Biswas

Eyeway Encounters with Dr Umang Mathur

WBU statement on World Sight Day Thursday 8 October 2020

On Thursday 8 October 2020, the World Blind Union (WBU) joins the rest of the world in observing World Sight Day. World Sight Day is the main advocacy event for raising awareness about blindness and vision impairment - The Right To Sight - and is observed annually on the second Thursday of October.

Invisible Disabilities: Missing from any Discourse on Disability

By Shruti Pushkarna

Lately, I have found myself unwinding to reruns of old favourite TV shows (now easily available on OTT platforms). The extensive amount of work unleashed by the pandemic, both on the professional as well as home front, leaves me utterly exhausted. So I treat myself to a nightcap in the form of yesteryear soap operas.

Sighted Confessions of a Visual-aholic

By Shruti Pushkarna

I’ve been writing this column for a little over nine months now. I have attempted to state facts, voice certain pertinent issues, identify gaps, highlight the absence of empathy and compassion towards anyone who is labeled as the ‘other’. I’ve even criticised the media for ignoring matters pertaining to persons with disabilities. So I thought it’s a good time to pause and ruminate on my own self. Point the finger inwards for a change.

Let’s rewind to 2016.

Yes! Technology can be a gamechanger for students with disabilities

By Shruti Pushkarna

Before you label this column (or the columnist) as being unnecessarily critical of everything (and everyone), let me dish out a few positive thoughts. I know I haven’t been an ardent supporter of the present-day leadership, and I’ve repeatedly highlighted the ignorance (and convenient oversight) of several stakeholders including our dear friends in the media, vis-à-vis issues faced by the disabled population. But I’m not a pessimist. If anything, I anticipate a better tomorrow.

Need to factor in Access for Disabled at the Ayodhya Ram Mandir

By Shruti Pushkarna

I have worked in television newsrooms for most part of my journalistic career. Despite several misgivings, I enjoyed the energy in that space, especially while handling major coverage like the elections, Union Budget or any special programming. The increased tabloidisation of news may have compelled me to quit, but as they say, old habits die hard. The mind is still drawn to TV channels on ‘big news days’.

Do we see an opportunity for the disabled in the new normal?

By Shruti Pushkarna

In times ridden with conflicting opinions about almost everything under the sun, I think we can safely agree that Covid-19 has changed how we interact with the environment. And I’m not just referring to the natural surroundings but also the environment where daily professional and social engagements take place.

The world is rapidly changing. And yet one thing remains the same. The intrinsic need to validate our existence. In the absence of physical interactions, we still want to be ‘seen’ and ‘heard’.

Is the academic triumph of disabled students not sexy enough for the media?

By Shruti Pushkarna

CBSE Class XII results were declared earlier this week. As always news reports flowed in, citing the best performing schools and students across the country. For students and teachers who have worked hard through the year, this is their moment of glory. Top scorers hog the media limelight, sharing their tall tales of rigorous preparations.

After COVID-19, Open Book Exam Emerges as the Latest Challenge for the Blind

By Shabnam Durani

The Delhi University’s (DU) decision to conduct an Open Book Examination (OBE) for those in their final year has created a sense of panic among the blind and visually impaired students. There are approximately 800 students with vision impairment studying in DU, out of which around 350 will appear for their final exams this year.