Srinagar, Jan 04 (KNO): On World Braille Day, visually impaired persons in Jammu and Kashmir have called for the establishment of a dedicated Braille training institute to promote inclusivity and empowerment for persons with vision disabilities. They urged the government to address gaps in the implementation of disability rights and create an environment that upholds genuine inclusivity.
Visually impaired persons from various parts of the Union Territory shared their concerns with the new agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), saying no attention is being paid to their challenges despite constitutional and legal safeguards.
Aqib Rehman, a visually impaired youth from Kulgam and currently a student at the University of Stirling, UK, said there is a need for a Braille training institute in the region. “Equal access to education and empowerment is essential to ensure inclusivity,” he said.
Aqib said that societal attitudes toward persons with vision disabilities remain largely unchanged in Kashmir. “Expressions used casually, such as Aenn Daand (blind bull), and anis chu raat doh hwuwuy (day and night are the same for the blind), perpetuate discrimination. A large-sccale awareness and sensitivity are crucial to address this issue,” he added.
Saima, another visually impaired scholar, said she believes that equal opportunities in education and employment are vital. She said that persons with complete blindness often face discrimination compared to those with partial disabilities. “We are capable of achieving the same as any normal person with the right support,” she said.
Sanya Zehra, a visually challenged scholar with a BA-LLB from Kashmir University and an LLM from RGNLU Patiala, said there are barriers within the education system. “Accessibility remains a glaring issue. Many institutions have failed to implement government-mandated guidelines under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act. Accessibility should not be treated as charity but as a fundamental right,” she said.
Sanya urged educational institutions to train their staff and administrators on disability rights and accommodations. She called for strict enforcement of government guidelines and penalties for non-compliance.
Others expressed concerns over the lack of accessible infrastructure in educational institutions. “No roads or institutes are fully accessible for us. Essential facilities like ramps, tactile accommodations, and accessible study materials are absent,” they said.
They added that there are no Braille libraries or scanned/e-text/recorded books in the region, despite the presence of around 66,000 blind persons in Jammu and Kashmir as per the 2011 census.
The visually impaired persons demand that the administration conduct accessibility audits across all schools and colleges in the region. They urged exam-conducting agencies like JKPCS and JKSSB to establish standardised guidelines for examinations involving persons with vision disabilities.
Their demands include considerations such as extra time for exams, provision of writer facilities and protocols for candidates bringing their own writers. They also stressed the importance of addressing the absence of ramps, tactile accommodations, and accessible classrooms in educational institutions, which often hinder their ability to attend regular lectures.
“The government must take proactive measures to ensure proper accessibility, equal opportunities and a supportive environment for visually impaired persons. It is only through genuine inclusivity and empowerment that the region can move toward a truly equitable society,” they said—(KNO)