Blinds' association setting up Braille press in Kolkata

KOLKATA: The Blind Persons'' Association has taken on the task of installing a Braille Press at Shree Vidyapalli, Malanch-Mahinagar, Kolkata.
"There are four government sponsored Braille presses in India, but these fall short of even meeting the need of textbooks for the sightless schoolchildren," said Saikat Kar, secretary of the Association. "The door to the highway of knowledge is closed on the sightless.Not to speak of the inaccessibility to books of higher education or those meant to cater to one''s varied tastes, they do not have school textbooks even for dearth of Braille or recorded materials. Engaging readers to get books read out to them is beyond their means," Kar added.
This proposed press is projected to bring out Braille books for higher studies in all major Indian languages including Urdu and English. "There is also a plan to expand the existing library with books on different branches of knowledges. With this end in view, a plot of land has been purchased at Malanch-Mahinagar. The first phase of the three-phase project is nearing completion. The second and third phase will cover expansion of braille press, setting up of a talking book library and a resource centre for the sightless," sa-id Sujata Roy, association president.