Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Jan 5: Visually impaired persons across Jammu and Kashmir have strongly advocated for the establishment of a dedicated Braille training institute in the Union Territory, saying such a facility is crucial for ensuring inclusive education, self-reliance, and dignity for persons with visual disabilities.
Individuals from different districts said that despite constitutional guarantees and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, their everyday challenges continue to be ignored by the administration. They said the absence of institutional support, accessible learning resources, and sensitisation has left the visually impaired community on the margins.
Sameer Ahmad, a visually impaired student from south Kashmir, emphasised the urgent need for a Braille training institute in Jammu and Kashmir. “Education is the foundation of empowerment. Without access to Braille training and adaptive learning tools, visually impaired students are denied equal opportunities,” he said.
He also highlighted the persistence of discriminatory social attitudes. “Large-scale awareness campaigns and sensitivity training are essential to challenge such mindsets,” he added.
Saima Jan, another visually impaired scholar from Bijbehara, said that equality in education and employment remains a distant goal 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 are capable of achieving the same milestones as anyone else,” she asserted.
Sanya Zehra, a visually challenged legal scholar who completed her BA-LLB from the University of Kashmir and LLM from Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala, pointed to serious 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.
Sanya called for mandatory training of teachers, administrators, and non-teaching staff on disability rights and reasonable accommodation. She also urged the government to strictly enforce existing rules and impose penalties on institutions that fail to comply.
Other visually impaired persons raised concerns about the lack of accessible infrastructure, stating that most educational institutions in the UT lack basic facilities such as 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 further pointed out the complete absence of Braille libraries, along with scanned, e-text, or audio-recorded books, despite the fact that Jammu and Kashmir is home to nearly 66,000 visually impaired persons, according to the 2011 Census.
The community demanded that the administration conduct comprehensive accessibility audits of all schools, colleges, and universities. They also urged exam-conducting bodies such as JKPCS and JKSSB to frame clear and standardised guidelines for candidates with visual disabilities.
Key demands include extra time during examinations, transparent policies for writer facilities, clear protocols for candidates opting to bring their own writers, and the provision of 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.
