Education and Employment

Blind man climbs coconut trees, dives into ponds as part of profession

"I could climb trees from childhood. So, I thought why not take it up as a profession?” says, Sanatan Das. Climbing coconut, palm and banyan trees as high as 70-80 feet to fell them down or cleaning the bed of ponds by diving ten feet underwater, is his means of livelihood.

Sanatan Das identifies a tree through touch and makes out its circumference by looping his arms around the trunk. He begins his work by setting up a makeshift scaffold, a little above the ground level. He sets up several scaffolds and he goes up by putting his arms around the tree trunk.

Lucknow University to build a library for its visually impaired students

The Lucknow University is in the process of building a library for its visually impaired students. Named Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Library, it will be an exclusive library for the visually impaired with a capacity to seat 50 visually impaired persons. Proctor of the university, V.D Mishra said, ‘‘We provide special facilities to them at the Tagore Library also. It is equipped with a conversation machine and braille transcript.”

Rainbow Melody’ initiative promotes employment for blind

I.T. companies discover the potential of disabled persons

More and more Business Process Outsourcing (B.P.O.) companies and IT-enabled services (I.T.E.S.) are recognising the potential of disabled people and are keen to hire them. Most of these companies recruit through N.G.O.s and also provide job training. Estimates suggest that the number of disabled people working in the B.P.O.- I.T.E.S. sector could be about 2,000.

Delhi University to set up a teachers’ training college for visually impaired persons

‘Global Vision Curriculum’ launched on World Sight Day

Hike in unemployment allowance for visually impaired people in Haryana

At a 10-day camp for disabled people held in Ballabgarh, the Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has announced a substantial hike in unemployment allowance for blind people of the state.

The event was organised by the District Red Cross Society, Faridabad, Lions Club International and Bhagwan Mahavira Sahayta Samiti, Jaipur.

Court orders engineering college to admit blind student

Visually impaired Jannu Nagababu from Vuyyuru village in Krishna district, Andhra Pradesh, has created history. He is all set to pursue a Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) Course. However, this youth from a poor family did not get a B.Tech. seat straight away. He waged a legal battle against the institutions which denied him his right on grounds that he was visually impaired.

Blind candidate excluded from State Service examination

At the Manipur Civil Services Combined Competitive (M.P.S.C.) Examination 2005 (preliminary), visually impaired Sapam Jashobanta was disallowed from appearing, even though he was issued the admission card.

The 29-year-old candidate was given the examination centre: the L.M.S. Law College, Imphal. Sapam said: he was forced out from the examination hall as M.P.S.C. authorities could not provide him answer sheets in Braille, which authorities conducting the examination are supposed to provide for blind candidates.

Helene Digital Library enables visually impaired people to read

The Helene digital library enables visually impaired people to read books available in digital format via a dedicated computer, which translates book files in Braille or audio format.

BrailleNet, a French organisation that promotes the use of the internet to assist in the education and professional integration of visually impaired persons has created this library with assistance from French telecommunication company Alcatel and other partners.

The library which opened in January 2006, initially includes books for young people. The collection will grow in the coming months.