General

Sign language interpreters at government briefings must: PIL

New Delhi, November 20

As visually impaired woman lawyer from Tamil Nadu has moved the Supreme Court, demanding sign language interpreters during press briefings by the Prime Minister, CMs and ministers.

Filed by M Karoagam, a disability rights activist, the PIL sought directions to the Centre and states to provide sign language interpreters during important press briefings in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

IIT Delhi's Neilom Award goes to assistive tech entrepreneurs. This is who they are

Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi's (IIT Delhi) Neilom Award for the year was conferred on Monday on Richa Gupta and Girish Yadav for their work in developing assistive technologies for the disabled. The honour, which is an annual affair rewards graduates from IIT Delhi with a cash prize of Rupees 1 lakh.

Centre issues draft norms to make bus terminals, stops more accessible

The road transport and highways ministry has issued draft guidelines, which among other things mandate reserving places for persons with disabilities within 30 metres of entrances of bus terminals to create accessible public transit modes. The guidelines seek to make the terminals and stops more accessible by introducing a uniform set of norms for all states to follow while constructing such facilities.

43-year-old visually impaired man from Vadodara scales 17,000 ft Himalayan peak

Visually challenged Sanjeev Gohil, recently climbed Mount Friendship at an altitude of 17,346 feet above sea level in Himachal Pradesh.

The 43-year-old has always been passionate about forests, wildlife conservation and mountaineering. However, in 2001, the resident of Vadodara, Gujarat, was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a progressive vision disorder.

Now, Gohil has lost his vision completely. However, that has not deterred him from following his passion for mountaineering.

ADP sponsors kits for visually impaired cricket team

ADP Pvt. Ltd., a leading provider of Human Capital Management Technology and Services based in Hyderabad and Pune, which has sponsored the State-level tournament for the visually challenged held in October 23-24, has also announced sponsoring the entire cricket kit with shoes to the chosen 14 players to play for Telangana in the 4th edition of ‘Nagesh Trophy’ – National T20 Cricket Tournament for the Blind 2021-2022, scheduled to take place till November 25 in Haryana and Delhi.

Visually impaired cyclist Ajay Lalwani begins 7,500 kms journey across India to spread the message of road safety

Mumbai : Ajay Lalwani, a visually impaired cyclist, is embarking on a 7,500 kms journey across India to raise awareness about road safety and the need for adequate lighting on our country’s roads. He will begin his journey from Gateway of India, Mumbai, and will travel twice across the length of the country to Srinagar, Kanyakumari and back to Mumbai, cycling through 12 states over a course of 45 days. His mission is supported by Signify (Previously known as Philips Lighting), the global leader in lighting.

6.5 lakh differently abled at receiving end of Punjab Govt ‘apathy’

Patiala, November 14

Though the Cabinet has already approved the “Punjab Divyangjan Sashaktikaran Yojana (PDSY)” across the state in January this year, a majority of the government departments are not even aware of the scheme so far.

The scheme is meant to empower the differently abled persons in the state and the Cabinet has already allocated Rs 35 crore towards it for the financial year 2021.

Schemes for persons with disabilities reviewed

PUDUKOTTAI:

Schemes for persons with disabilities were reviewed by R. Lalvena, Secretary, Department of Welfare of Differently Abled Persons, here on Tuesday.

The meeting organised at the District Collectorate was attended by Collector Kavitha Ramu and officials of all government departments.

Two blind students graduate with distinction

Panaji: Sumera Khan, 23, from Margao was born with blindness, but ask her to travel to Santa Cruz for her sessions at the National Association of the Blind (NAB) and she can do so seamlessly using public transport, with only her white cane as support.

Job for visually impaired man: LHC dismisses govt’s plea against single bench verdict

LAHORE: A Lahore High Court division bench has dismissed an appeal filed by the Punjab government against a single bench’s decision whereby it was directed to consider a visually impaired candidate for an educator’s job who qualified for the post.

Muhammad Kamran Jamil, a visually impaired candidate, responding to an advertisement issued by the Punjab education department for the posts of Elementary School Educators (ESE), applied for the job and cleared the test conducted by the National Testing Service (NTS).