A section of visually challenged people here has welcomed Union finance minister Arun Jaitley's announcement to introduce currency notes with Braille signs. India is home to the world's largest population of visually challenged people — some 20 million.

Absence of Braille markings on currency notes is a big impediment for them as they have to rely on the size of the note to guess its value or depend on help from friends and relatives. Machines to ascertain the value of notes are available in the market, but not many use them as they are expensive and not user-friendly.Kapil Kumar, a visually impaired PhD scholar, says, "As there are no markings on currency notes, I have to take help from friends and relatives to know the value. I keep Rs 10 notes in my trouser pockets and the higher value notes like Rs 100 or Rs 500 in my shirt's upper pocket to distinguish between them." Kumar said the move to introduce Braille signs on notes will help millions of visually challenged people lead a better life. Raveena Bala, a visually impaired student, said, "Taking money out of the ATM machine is a big headache, as I always have to take my younger brother along for help. The Braille markings on the currency notes will be very useful."Sources said the demand to put Braille markings on currency was being discussed with theReserve Bank of India since months. General secretary of national federation of the blind in Uttarakhand, Pitamber Singh Chauhan, told TOI, "India is home to the largest number of visually impaired individuals and this should have been done earlier. Nevertheless, we welcome the government's decision and hope the new notes will replace the old ones in the market soon." He added, "Reserve Bank of India had earlier made some provisions for assistance of the visually impaired in 2008, by carving and making cuts in the coins. But, this step (of Braille markings on currency notes) was much needed."

Requesting anonymity, a senior official at national institute of visually handicapped in Dehradun, however, sounded a note of caution on the announcement. "The currency notes are usually thin and to make engravings would be tough. With time, these could even disintegrate," he said. The government should put warning on these notes to let people know to handle it with care, he added. The government has also announced that it would set up 15 new Braille press and revive 10 existing ones in the country.

SOURCE Times of India