World Braille Day: Empowering the Visually Impaired in J&K through reforms
Editorial
By statetimes_editor
Last updated Jan 4, 2025
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Aaryan Sharma
World Braille Day, observed annually on January 4, celebrates the groundbreaking invention of Louis Braille, which revolutionized education and communication for visually impaired individuals. Beyond commemorating this milestone, the day serves as a critical reminder to address the social, educational, and legal barriers faced by visually impaired people, particularly in regions like Jammu & Kashmir.
Visual Impairment in Jammu & Kashmir: A Legal Perspective
J&K has a significant prevalence of vision-related disabilities, compounded by limited healthcare access, delayed diagnoses, and insufficient awareness. While various laws exist to support differently-abled individuals, their implementation in J&K often remains inconsistent due to systemic inefficiencies and socio-political challenges.
Key Legal Frameworks Supporting Visually Impaired Individuals
1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016
This comprehensive legislation recognizes 21 categories of disabilities, including blindness and low vision, and mandates:
- Education Rights: Free education for children with disabilities up to 18 years, along with accessible learning materials.
- Employment Quotas: Reservation of 4% of government jobs for individuals with disabilities, including 1% specifically for those with vision impairments.
- Barrier-Free Accessibility: Public infrastructure must integrate Braille signage, ramps, [...]