Blind students walk for books: Kolkata Book Fair

Decades ago when Society for the Visually Handicapped, Kolkata would hold a stall in the Maidan Calcutta Book Fair Pavilion, once a Padayatra for Books was organized by the authorities of the Calcutta Book Fair. As one of the stall-holders we too participated. Naba Karmakar and Sujit Karmakar, twin brothers blind walk with Hena Bas

SVH Braille & Talking Book Library & the State Central Library West Bengal, Kolkata 1996-2016

People ask us how did we "manage" to find space in the State Central Library at Kankurgachi? My answer is that when on 16 September 1996 this new building came up, prior to that thethen Chief Librarian Amitava Bose invited us to guide his about the special requirement of Blind users. He told me that the former Chief Minister Jyoti Basu advised him to make a section for the Blind as is found overseas. The downmost photo shows Ms Kalyani Chowdhury, thethen Secretary, Ministry of Mass Education Extn, conversing with Ms Hena Basu, Secretary Society for the Visually Handicapped, about the plan to maintain this service. The middle photo shows officials & beneficiaries of SVH who gathered that day to celebrate the inauguration of this Special Section. The top photo shows a Japan High Commission delegate-members visiting this unique service delivered for the first time in India!

DeafBlind Chhotti Shaw ties Rakhi celebrating Rakshabandhan 18 August 2016. Medicoverage.

Miss Chhotti Shaw, a DeafBlind undergraduate student, Khudiram Bose Central College, Kolkata,  and SVH Singari Devi Trust Scholarship holder is tying rakhi on the hands of a wellwisher. On her left is Pinky Shaw, a Blind UG student of SVH.

New case of Blind child, Zunaira. How the process for mainstreaming starts in Kolkata August 2016

16 August 2016

                                                                 Zunaira with Rashmi

Dear Hena di,

  Warm regards to you..

   I met Mr. Alam on Saturday. We had a detailed talk. He enquired about his daughter's education, schools, system of learning and everything. I invited him to my house to meet Rashmi. They came yesterday and are very happy to see Rashmi. They have decided to mainstream her daughter's education.

   Zunnaira, their daughter is very intelligent, quick learner, and active. She just reminded me of Rashmi's childhood. She is talkative, curious, and good at singing. I feel she will be able to do well in mainstream school. I suggested to get ready to face interview at APeejay School. If we strat training the child from now, she will be ready for the interview by October./November.

  I spoke to Ruma di, they will be coming to this centre on 24th August. Zunnaira's Mother is also keen to learn braille. Ruma di will start their training after that.

With regards,

Annapurna

SVH Braille & Digital Talking Book Library, State Central Library, Kolkata

Janab Siddikulla Chowdhury, Hon'ble Library Minister, Govt of WB, visited SVH Braille & Digital Talking Book Library, State Central Library, Kolkata immediately on taking charge of the Ministry on Tuesday 26 July 2016. He showed appreciation for the service rendered here for the education empowerment of the Blind.
On 04 August 2016 he made a repeat visit.
SVH Braille & Digital Talking Book Library, State Central Library West Bengal, Government of West Bengal,  Kolkata is managed by the volunteers of the Society for the Visually Handicapped (SVH), kolkata by raising public funds. Goct of West Bengal facilitates the service by giving free of charge space & electricity.

Digital Talking Book project and Computerized Braille Book Production Project are supported by the Hans Foundation, New Delhi.
Todate approx 1000 GB of digital audio books have been recorded, edited, circulated among Blind listeners and are now being gradually uploaded in "SOUNDCLOUD", a domain sponsored by Devasis T Das, USA.
SVH beneficiries, Blind, Vision Impaired & Low Vision number 450+ approx, from school to PHD level students and general listeners.

Blind swimmer West Bengal 2016 media coverage

Renewal of registration of the Society under Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995 under the Dept of Social Welfare, Govt of West Bengal. Visit for inspection on 01 August 2016

Yesterday 01 August 2016 I got a call in the morning, a male voice introducing himself as a representative from the Dept of Social Welfare, Govt of WB, planning a visit for inspection of SVH activities. He could not arrive on time as his car got held up in a traffic snarl. I assured him to come de-stressed as we shall be waiting to receive him.

He, Mr Arnab Ray, arrived around 5.40 PM, questioned on specific queries, inspected our activities briefly as it was almost evening and left by 6.15 PM. What we all liked about him was that he was extremely reassuring, did not wield his Governmental aura, shared with us his experience of studying with a Blind classmate in his College days, observed the technical nitty-gritties of Braille embossing and digital audio recording for Blind students and left a very warm impact on us far from the image of a Government Inspector we are accustomed to imagine. Thank you Mr Ray, we feel encouraged. I excerpt below his comment on our Visitor's book: " I came for an inspection but leaving the place being enriched with a lot of knowledge. Thanks to all the members."

Rashmi's independence 02-08-2016

At last Rashmi is free from the hassle of rushing to find a writer, which every Blind and vision impaired examinee has to undergo in the traditional system of exam in India. Now her new School provides her the Equal Opportunity of accessing a computer and she can submit her answer calmly. Bravo Rashmi!

Rashmi Maruwada July 2016

The above photographs speak a lot. First six ones show Rashmi moving independently within her school (Apeejay Group of Schools, Park Street, Kolkata). In her red sports uniform she was asked to perform a Rabindrasangit. With a Telugu mothertongue she spontaneously sang "Amar Mukti Aloy Aloy" a legacy she carries proudly from Patha Bhavan School, Kolkata. The last two photos show Braille volumes prepared on special requisition from Rashmi, in SVH embosser and handed over to her mother Annapurnaji.We wish Rashmi "Go ahead! Sky is the limit! We are with you! Courtesy The Hans Foundation, New Delhi