Karnataka - Mysore   

Visually challenged can get a feel of the environment here

Special Correspondent

Special learning centre set up at natural history museum

NOVEL VENTURE: Visually challenged persons touch and feel exhibits at the Regional Museum of Natural History in Mysore. — PHOTO: M.A.SRIRAM

MYSORE: Getting a first-hand feel of the environment is just one touch away for the visually challenged.

For, the Regional Museum of Natural History (RMNH) in Mysore recently set up a section to cater exclusively to the visually impaired.

"Touch, Feel and Learn, Live Bio-resource Centre," reckoned to be the first of its kind in the country, has been funded by the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India.

Special learning centre

It is a special learning centre not only for the visually impaired, but also for other differently abled persons.

The entrance area has a map with embossed drawings and labels that provides a sense of orientation to the visitors and other details of the bio resource centre.

The visitors are then led along a straight pathway and can get a feel of the trees planted along the way. After that, they come across a few plants on both sides of the pathways. Braille labels help the visitors identify the plants.

From the pathway, they are led to the maze area, where 22 shrubs have been planted in a random manner. They can touch the plants and learn about them with the assistance of Braille labels.

B. Venugopal, scientist in charge of the museum, said that this process of touching, feeling and learning through Braille scripts, would be a process of discovery for the visitors. The learning would be devoid of any drudgery, he said. After covering the maze area, the visitors enter a specially designed sunken bridge, where railings take care of safety requirements. They enter into knee-deep water and touch a few aquatic plants and fishes.

The interpretation will be provided with the help of an audio commentary.

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