The blind in the state can now get replies to their queries under the Right to Information (RTI) Act in Braille, thanks to an initiative of the state information commission with the help of the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped.
State information commissioner K S Sripathi said the programme, being done for the first timein the country, "Is expected to help more than seven lakh visually challenged people in the state." He said, "We have taken up the initiative following various requests from visually challenged persons across the state."

Every time the information commission receives a RTI application seeking information in Braille, the commission will prepare a reply in the printed format and forward it to the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, where it will be converted into Braille. For each page of information, the application will be charged
Re 1. "Initially, we planned to provide copies in Braille without any fee but financial constraints are not allowing us to provide information for free," said Sripathi.
National Institute for the Visually Handicapped regional director I Arivanandham said they were very glad to be associated with the project. "The RTI has emerged as a great tool for citizens. Providing information through Braille will help visually challenged people fight their cause. We are trying to convert the printed format into Braille," he said.