A first of its kind digitally accessible library, 'Sugamya Pustakalaya', is all set to be launched next week by the Modi Government for the visually challenged or partially sighted people who need books in Braille, accessible e-text or audio format.
Aiming to remove the barriers in literacy and employment, the library is expected to be a major game changer for the blind and low vision people who would have access to the printed word in an accessible format. The books will be available in various vernacular languages besides Hindi and English.
Developed by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) in collaboration with the DAISY Forum of India, "Sugamya Pustakalaya" will be inaugurated by Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Electronics & Information Technology, Thaawarchand Gehlot, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment and Prakash Javadekar, Minister for Human Resource Development on August 24 here.
"Persons with blindness or low vision have been suffering from book famine. But the latest developments and the digital technology revolution have a potential of providing a solution to persons who cannot read normal print, need books in Braille, accessible e-text or audio format.
"To produce books in any of these formats, we need the master digital book. The Sugamya Pustakalaya is poised to become the largest collection of books in accessible formats. It will be a one-stop resource for the reading requirements of the sector.
"It is also going to act as a central repository of digital books for all Braille presses," said a senior official from the Ministry of SJ&E.
Besides, universities, education boards, and various other stakeholders will be able to provide books and content to students in accessible formats through this portal, said a senior official from the DEPwD.
Bookshare, the world's largest online library for the print disabled is a major contributor of books to 'Sugamya Pustakalaya'. Publishers including education boards of different states can also contribute accessible versions of their books to Sugamya Pustakalaya, the official added.
The initiative is the part of the Government's "Accessible India Campaign (Sugamya BharatAbhiyan)", a nationwide flagship campaign for achieving universal accessibility for persons with disabilities.
The campaign which was launched by Prime Minister Narender Modi on December 3, 2015, on the occasion of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, endeavors to make India inclusive and accessible.
According to the World Blind Union, about 1 million books are published around the world each year, but less than 7 percent are made available in formats accessible to people who can't read traditional print.
Facebook comments