core sector communique

Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment inaugurates Antarchakshu Providing Insights into the Intricacies of the Daily Lives of the Visually Impaired

Shri Mukul Wasnik, Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment inaugurated the event “ANTARCHAKSHU – The Eye Within” here today. Speaking on the occasion the Minister said that the event highlights areas of education, financial access and equal employment opportunities. This event will provide the participants insights into the intricacies of the daily lives of the visually impaired. The Minister further added that the Government is taking several steps to see that the life of the Person with Disabilities are in such a manner that they are able to enjoy equal opportunities and equal right with all others. Last year in August we inaugurated the Indian Sign Language Research & Training Centre (ISLRTC) at Indira Gandhi National Open University. We are also going to make our National Institutes in to centers of excellence. We are also in process of setting up of a National Center for barrier free environment and universal design. Such an initiative on similar lines have been taken in the recent past. I look forward for active cooperation from all those who have been working in this sector and I would like to appeal to younger people especially the student community to join hands with us, so that we are able to sensitize the society at large and help in the process of creating an inclusive society. After the inauguration the Minister was the first participant in the activity zone of Antarchaksu and went through the experience being blindfolded. He experienced the challenges of walking on an uneven and obstacle-ridden simulated footpath, finding cities of India on a tactical map, typing with a screen reading software, and the fun of a penalty shootout with an accessible football. The three day event has been organized by the Xavier`s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged, Mumbai, Equal Opportunity Office of the Jawahar Lal Nehru University, New Delhi, National Institute for the Visually Handicapped, Dehradun, Saksham Trust, New Delhi and Sightsavers. Present on the occasion were Secretary, Department of Disability Affairs, Smt. Stuti Kacker, Joint Secretary, Shri Pankaj Joshi and other dignitaries.