A desk officer receives calls on the Eye-way Orissa helpline in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, April 13: From queries on railway reservation to technology related queries, eye-way Orissa, the first helpline service for the blind in the state is in place to assist the visually impaired with information.

Launched jointly by the city-based Open Learning System and New Delhi-based Score Foundation, the helpline aims to provide the callers information relating to higher education, employment opportunities and social security problems.

“It is often difficult for a visually challenged person to get information about themselves on various subjects. The helpline is not only a suitable medium for the disabled, but can also be accessed by their parents, guardians and organisations working in the sector,” said Sanyas Kumar Behera, a senior official of Open learning system.

Those seeking information can call the number 9439666222 and make their queries. The calls will be receive by a person on the other end who will register the query along with the name and address of the person on a computer. This service will be available six days a week during official hours.

“The queries are generally answered immediately. If we don’t have the answers handy, we take time to get the information, call them back and answer them,” said counsellor Manjulata Panda who mans the helpline.

“There are interesting queries on how to get SMS alerts and how to convert PDF files for word file. Also, there are people ho ask questions regarding recruitment problems and where to lodge complaints regarding salary and other problems,” said Panda, adding that the information about the helpline is being spread through popular radio programmes.

About 50 queries have already been registered since the helpline service first started in January. Majority of the complaint are from rural areas where there is no access to information. The queries are on livelihood and property related matter.

The helpline service recently helped in the rehabilitation of a visually challenged woman from Jharsuguda. “This woman had her eyesight when she married, but had subsequently lost her vision. However, her husband, in an attempt to get rid of her, framed her in a false case. We helped her with legal assistance and vocational training to support herself and her baby,” said Panda.