In a historic move towards inclusive education, the Uttar Pradesh government launched the state’s first Braille library on Sunday at Dr. Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University (DSMNRU) in Lucknow. The library supports Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s goal of providing education and empowerment for people with disabilities.
UP Inaugurates Its First Braille Library in Lucknow
The new facility is on the first floor of the Swami Vivekananda Central Library within the university campus. Vice-Chancellor Acharya Sanjay Singh opened the library as the chief guest and paid floral tributes to Louis Braille, the founder of the Braille script, on his birth anniversary. While addressing the gathering, Singh encouraged visually impaired students to become self-reliant and urged the university to offer modern computer training.
He emphasized that the Braille script is an important educational tool that helps visually impaired individuals connect with mainstream society.
Vast collection of academic books
Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Backwards Classes Welfare and Divyangjan Empowerment Narendra Kashyap mentioned that the library holds more than 4,000 academic books based on the National Education Policy (NEP), produced by the university’s Braille press. These books cover 54 undergraduate and postgraduate courses.
He noted that DSMNRU is the first university in the state to set up such a large, organized Braille library. A reading room for over 150 students has also been created.
Professor Yashwant Viroday, university spokesperson and library in-charge, said that the library plans to grow its collection to 10,000 books this year. In addition to academic materials, the library will include novels, plays, biographies of notable personalities, and other literary works.
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