By OUR STAFF REPORTER
Dehradun, 22 Jul: A significant milestone was achieved at Dr Ambedkar International Center in New Delhi, today, where a meeting was held under the chairmanship of Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr Virendra Kumar, and his associate minister, BL Verma. During this meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony was organised between all national institutions/subordinate regional centres (CRCs) under the DEPwD and startups and organisations working towards the empowerment of persons with disabilities. MoUs were signed in the fields of technology, innovation, education, and sign language, with over 70 institutions and organisations across the country engaged in the welfare and upliftment of persons with disabilities.
In this event, Er Manish Verma, Officiating Director of the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD), Dehradun, also officially signed two significant MoUs. The first MoU was signed with Xavier’s Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged (XRCVC) in Mumbai, under which NIEPVD and XRCVC will work together to make STEM education more accessible nationwide, specifically for visually impaired individuals. The aim of this collaboration is to provide educational resources and support to visually impaired students in four specific subjects – Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. This partnership will help bridge the educational gap and open new avenues for visually impaired students in science and technology fields.
The second MoU was signed between NIEPVD and the National Association for the Blind Delhi (NAB Delhi), under which an interactive voice response (IVR) based audio library named “Shravan” will be jointly operated by both institutions. This innovative service will allow users to access a vast library of books and information through simple phone interactions, thereby breaking down barriers to knowledge and learning. These partnerships established by the institution will pave the way for innovative solutions, research, and development in the field of disability and rehabilitation.
The ceremony was attended by senior officials from the DEPwD including Secretary Rajesh Aggarwal, Joint Secretary Rajesh Yadav, and directors and representatives from various national institutions.
