Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Government of India
Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
24-August-2016 16:40 IST
Sugamya
Pustakalaya- an online library for persons with visual disabilities launched
Over 2 lakhs books available in
several languages in accessible formats for people with visual impairment and
print disabilities
“Sugamya Pustakalaya: A step towards an
Accessible Digital India” (An online library for persons with visual
disabilities) was
launched by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Law & Justice and
Electronics & Information Technology at a function organized by Department
of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment here today. Shri Thaawarchand
Gehlot, Minister of Social Justice & Empowerment
presided over the function. Shri Prakash Javadekar, Minister for Human Resource
Development and Ministers of State for Social Justice & Empowerment Shri
Krishan Pal Gurjar and Shri Ramdas Athawale were the Guests of
Honour. Before the inaugural function, there was a panel discussion on the
subject of “Accessible Digital India”.
Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad said this is an era of Information and
Technology and both are powers. Through Digital India we are seeking to bridge
the Digital Divide between have’s and have not’s. We have linked Divyangjans
with the common service centres in our country. National Informatics
Centre (NIC) is in the process of making 100 Government websites Divyang
friendly of which 16 have already been made Divyang friendly. He asked NGOs and
citizens to use “My Gov” to provide valuable inputs on Government of India
schemes.
Shri Thaawarchand Gehlot said his Ministry is dedicated to the
Sugamaya Bharat campaign and buildings in several Indian cities will be made
accessible. Over 6 lakh Divyangjans have been provided equipment and 4000 camps
have been organized nationwide to facilitate and upgrade the lives of
Digvaygjans and downtrodden sections of society. Permission has been given to
establish 18 new Braille Printing Presses. The Divyang College in Trivandrum
will also be converted into Divyang University. A new world record was created
when 1500 Divyangans were provided equipment in Varanasi.
Shri Prakash Javadekar in his address said HRD Ministry will
provide just assistance to facilitate the Divyangjans in our country. He said his first convocation address will
be at the Divyang University at Chitrakoot.
Shri Kishan Pal Gurjar said that
Divyangjans don’t need the sympathy of the people but deserve their love,
affection and support. Through this launch of “Sugamya Pustakalaya” they will be able to get all valuable information.
He also sought cooperation from publishers in this endeavour.
Shri Ramdas Athawale said that it
is the prime responsibility of his Ministry is to look after the interest and
wellbeing of the Divyagjans and backwards sections of our society. He hoped
that this initiative will achieve its objectives.
Shri Dipendra Manocha, Managing Trustee of Saksham Trust gave a
brief introduction of the E-library “Sugamya Pustakalaya”
on the occasion.
“Sugamaya Pustakalaya” is an online platform that makes accessible content
available to print-disabled people. The library houses publications across
diverse subjects and languages and multiple accessible formats. It has been
created by Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan),
Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in collaboration with member
organizations of Daisy Forum of India and powered by TCS Access. Books are
available in Accessible formats for people with visual impairment and other
print disabilities. Over 2 lakhs books in diverse languages. Integrating
libraries across India and the Globe, including the largest international
library, ‘Bookshare’.
In case of End User i.e. person with Print Disability: The next time a person with Print Disability needs to
read a book, he can skip the laborious process of looking for volunteers to
read them to him or scan and edit them. A quick search on the Sugamya
Pustakalaya may land him with the book of his choice at the click of a button.
He will need to be a registered print-disabled member with one of the member
DFI organizations to download the book or procure it offline through their
member organization. He can access all the books in the library at a click of a
button. He can read the publications on any device of his choice- mobile
phones, tablets, computers, DAISY players or even in braille using refreshable braille
displays. He could also request for a braille copy through member organizations
that have Braille presses.
In case of a School/College/Library: Universities, School Library, Public Libraries or any
such institution can become a member of DFI or subscribe to the online library
to offer the entire collection of the Sugamya Pustakalaya to their members or
students with print disabilities. Educational institutions can also contribute
accessible format books produced for their students so that students from other
educational institutions can access the same and avoid duplications of creation
at multiple locations.
In case of a Publisher/Government House/Textbook
Production House: They can be part of creating history
by creating the largest accessible online library in a developing country.
Increase their reader base to include persons with print disabilities by
sharing accessible formats of their publications to be put up on Sugamya
Pustakalaya. The library already hosts publications such as Reader’s Digest and
India Today and seeks to have new partnerships with a large number of private
and government publishing house and publications. Textbooks production houses,
state text book boards (SCERTs/NCERT) can meet their obligations under the
Right to Education Act (2009) by providing their content to students with print
disabilities through this platform. Sugamya Pustakalya will provide protection
to books and limit distribution to only those who cannot read normal print.
In case of an NGO: They can begin a library service for persons with print
disabilities by joining as a members and offer the complete content provided by
the Sugamya Pustakalaya to their members.
In case of a Corporate: Their employees can volunteer for accessible content
creation and help reach out to millions of users with print disabilities. The
IT industry can contribute with technology development to fill gaps in
authoring and reading of digital content in all Indian languages.
Regards
Pralhad Jadhav
Senior Manager @ Library
Khaitan & Co
Upcoming Events | MIT School of Management – One Day
Workshop “Use of QR Code and Augmented Reality Application in Libraries” on 27th
August 2016 at Kothrud Campus, Pune 411038.
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