The Hindu : New Delhi News : Best Braille Press award presented

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Monday, Jan 05, 2009
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New Delhi

Best Braille Press award presented

Staff Reporter

The award carries a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh and a citation

Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

Book release: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee flanked by Minister of State for Finance Pawan Kumar Bansal and Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar releasing a book in Braille published by the National Book Trust, in the Capital on Sunday, the birth bi-centenary of Louis Braille.

NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee gave away the National Award for the Best Braille Press to A.K. Mittal of the All-India Confederation of the Blind at a function here on Sunday.

The Union Government had instituted the new award in 2008 to mark the birth bi-centenary of Louis Braille. The award carries a cash prize of Rs.1 lakh and a citation.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Chatterjee said the award would go a long way in encouraging those entrusted with the running of Braille presses to further their contribution in educating and empowering visually-impaired people.

“Notwithstanding the various measures and schemes undertaken by the Government, what is required is that all stakeholders of society should come forward not only in empowering the affected, but also in bringing a change in the perception of our society to them and their problems. It is also the responsibility of the Government to ensure a hurdle-free environment for the visually-challenged persons in matters of education, employment, access and travel facilities. The progress and prosperity of each section of society is intertwined with overall national progress,” he added.

Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar said: “Now this award will be given as a part of the National Awards for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities that are given on December 3 every year on the occasion of the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. The Ministry promotes the self-employment of persons with visual impairments through vocational training and loans on concessional rates. Their employment in the government is mandated through reservation, against identified suitable posts. There has been a gradual increase in employment of persons with disabilities in the government. There is still a lot to be done in this regard. After continuous persuasion on our part, 10 organised civil services have been identified as suitable for appointment of persons with visual impairments.” On the occasion commemorative coins of Rs.100 and Rs.2 denominations were also issued. The Rs. 2 coin will be in circulation. Besides, one postage stamp of Rs.5 denomination, three Braille books published by the National Book Trust and a documentary by Films Division were also released.

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