Ravenshaw University

Cuttack, Feb. 2: Ravenshaw University authorities are planning to provide textbooks for visually-challenged students in Braille format.

The varsity is planning to set up a Braille printing press on its campus to tide over the problem of shortage of textbooks for the visually-challenged students.

Not only the students of the premier university, visually-challenged students of other schools and colleges will also be benefited from the project, said an official of the varsity.

“Our plan is to convert Ravenshaw University into a model university for the visually-challenged students. Keeping that in mind, we are planning to set up a Braille printing unit here,” said Priyabrat Majhi, co-ordinator of the equal opportunity cell at Ravenshaw University.

Majhi further said the university would shortly send a proposal to the state and the central governments in this regard.

Official sources said that the cost of setting up a Brail printing unit with latest equipment would be around Rs 50 lakh. Hence, various corporate houses will also be urged to sponsor the project.

“No university in the country is having such a Braille printing unit. Our aim is to provide necessary infrastructure to the students so that they do not face problems in getting education,” Majhi added.

Around 100 visually-challenged students are studying in various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at Ravenshaw university at present. The varsity has already undertaken number of development projects for the students.

The university has installed Dux Berry, the latest software that can covert written text into audio format, in the library at a cost of Rs 4 lakh. Besides, a Braille printer has also been installed for students at the library.

Apart from this, around four disabled-friendly toilets have been set up on the campus. Earlier, the varsity had also spent around Rs 1 crore towards construction of ramps and elevators as part of its ongoing measures for a disabled-friendly campus.