Indian Museum is introducing Braille plaques to enable visually challenged visitors to know about the exhibits. Six Braille sheets will be introduced in the museum's Bharhut gallery as part of a pilot project, which will be launched on June 5.

The sheets, prepared by the Blind Persons' Association, will have texts in Bengali, Hindi and English on stupas of the Sunga period (2nd century BC) and relics of Bodhgaya.

"This is a pilot project. With the installation of Braille plaques made of paper, we will set the ball rolling for a bigger project - installation of Braille plaques made of aluminium in all our 25 galleries," museum director Jayanta Sengupta said.

"As of now, the Braille sheets will be put up on wooden planks for the visually challenged to feel and read. The entire project will take around a year to complete."

Commenting on the need to have Braille plaques in the museum, Sengupta said: "The museum by definition is inclusive. The project will make them (visually challenged) feel equal to others. It's part of a 14-point programme of the culture ministry aimed at giving museums a global standard."

Talking about the project, Amio Kumar Biswas of the Blind Persons' Association said: "The move to install plaques by Indian Museum is appreciable. We have made the plaques from normal Braille paper that can last a year."

<,>Nupur Payra, who has 25 per cent visibility, was excited over the museum's move. "I am glad that the museum-going experience will change for the likes of us. It will make us feel more empowered," said Nupur, who uses ATMs with Braille keypads and medicines with Braille labels.