Srinagar, Jan 5 — Visually impaired persons across Jammu and Kashmir have urged the establishment of a dedicated Braille training institute, calling it essential for inclusive education, self-reliance, and dignity.
Despite constitutional guarantees and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, individuals from different districts said their daily challenges remain largely unaddressed. “The lack of institutional support, accessible learning resources, and awareness has left us on the margins,” one member of the community said.
Sameer Ahmad, a visually impaired student from south Kashmir, said, “Education is the foundation of empowerment. Without access to Braille training and adaptive learning tools, visually impaired students are denied equal opportunities.
He added, “Large-scale awareness campaigns and sensitivity training are essential to challenge discriminatory social attitudes.”
Saima Jan, a scholar from Bijbehara, said equality in education and employment remains distant for those with complete blindness. “People with partial disabilities often receive more acceptance, while those who are fully blind face deeper discrimination. With proper support systems, we can achieve the same milestones as anyone else,” she said.
Legal scholar Sanya Zehra acknowledged persistent shortcomings within educational institutions. “Accessibility continues to be a major barrier. Many colleges and universities have failed to comply with mandatory guidelines under the RPwD Act. Accessibility is not an act of charity—it is a legal and fundamental right,” she said.
She called for mandatory training of teachers, administrators, and non-teaching staff on disability rights, and urged strict enforcement of rules with penalties for non-compliant institutions.
Other visually impaired persons pointed to inadequate infrastructure across schools and colleges, including the absence of ramps, tactile pathways, accessible classrooms, and adaptive study materials.
“Neither roads nor campuses are designed keeping us in mind, making even regular attendance a struggle,” they said.
They also noted the lack of Braille libraries and audio or e-text resources, despite J&K being home to nearly 66,000 visually impaired persons, according to the 2011 Census.
The community demanded comprehensive accessibility audits of educational institutions and clear guidelines from exam-conducting bodies such as JKPCS and JKSSB, including extra time during exams, transparent policies for writer facilities, and accessible examination centres.
“The government must move beyond tokenism and take concrete steps to ensure accessibility, equal opportunity, and a supportive ecosystem for visually impaired persons. Only genuine inclusivity can pave the way for a just and equitable society in Jammu and Kashmir,” they said.
(Inputs from KNO)