The visually challenged from Tiruchi on Monday staged a demonstration in front of the District Collectorate here seeking permission to travel in all buses free of cost as per the government order.

Some would not allow them to travel free of cost on long-distance buses or without identification from the government. They had to pay the full fare and they were also charged for luggage if they were travelling to make a living.

“We would be carrying soaps, incense sticks, books to sell on buses and they would restrict it. How are we to earn a living then,” they asked.
 

The National Association for the Welfare of the Physically Challenged (NAWPC) is an organisation that imparts computer education to visually impaired students and aids them with job opportunities through assistive technology.

“For me, it is all about setting new records,” said Ajay Lalwani. The visually-impaired cyclist, who is currently on a 7,500 km journey across India to raise awareness about road safety and the need for adequate lighting on our country’s roads, says he wants to better himself and do all that the world believes is not possible for him.

Figure represents only a tiny fraction of group’s total population of 26.8 million

Only 4,018 people with disabilities have received both doses of COVID-19 vaccine till November 28, as per figures released by the Health Ministry during the ongoing session of Parliament. It added that as per the CoWIN portal, 8,390 people with disabilities received the first dose.

As per Census 2011, the differently abled population in India stands at 26.8 million.

Visually impaired Kiran Kumari to function as coordinator

Tribune News Service

Patiala, December 6

A visually disabled assistant professor at Punjabi University will function as coordinator of its newly established Centre for Disability Studies here. The announcement was made during a district-level programme on December 3, the World Disability Day.

Punjabi University said the basic aim of the centre was to cater to the specific educational needs of persons with disabilities, visual impairment, physical disability, hearing impairment and others.