BRAILLE NEWSPAPER FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

BRAILLE NEWSPAPER FOR THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED

14-OCT-ENG 1

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

DELHI--------------------------To ensure news and essential information reach the visually impaired, the Hindi and Marathi Braille newspapers published under Reliance Foundation’s 'Drishti' program will now be issued weekly instead of fortnightly; this means readers will have the opportunity to read news from across the country and the world every week. Reliance Foundation publishes these newspapers in collaboration with the National Association for the Blind (NAB) India. The readership of these newspapers exceeds 30,000.

Nita M. Ambani, Founder and Chairperson of Reliance Foundation, has been consistently striving to assist the visually impaired and provide them with better opportunities. In January of this year, during the 75th Foundation Day celebrations of NAB India in Mumbai, she announced a contribution of ₹5 crore on behalf of the Foundation. The weekly publication of Braille newspapers is part of this initiative. This will provide the visually impaired with regular access to news and vital information, enabling them to stay better connected with events unfolding across the nation and the globe.

The Reliance Foundation 'Drishti' program was launched in 2003. Its objective is to provide quality eye care to the needy and improve the lives of the visually impaired. Activities under the program include free eye check-ups, corneal transplants, and the provision of spectacles. For these services, the Foundation has partnered with NAB India, Sankara Eye Foundation, and Aravind Eye Care System.

According to the Foundation, assistance has been provided to over 200,000 people through the 'Drishti' program so far. It has also helped restore the eyesight of more than 22,500 individuals. These efforts aim not only to provide quality eye care to the needy but also to empower the visually impaired to lead lives filled with confidence. The weekly publication of Braille newspapers will further advance this mission. This will enable readers to receive news, current affairs, and information related to society more regularly.