Supply of Braille textbooks to visually-challenged children in 32 schools across the State from Karnataka’s only Braille textbook printing press in Mysuru appears unlikely as no steps have been taken to replace the defunct machine.
The printing machine become non-functional over two years ago. The textbooks had to be outsourced to presses in New Delhi and other places, shelling out a sizeable sum of money despite having about 10 staff members with expertise in printing Braille books.
The money spent in outsourcing the books could have been used to replacing the non-functional machine. The press functions under the Directorate of Disabled Welfare and Senior Citizens.
For the coming academic year, there is a demand for 10,000 subject textbooks to 32 schools, including four government schools for the blind, and 5,000 textbooks to regular schools (where special children are taught under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan), in all districts.
About 900 visually-challenged children study in these schools. The school in Mysuru is considered one of the oldest and it is located adjoining the School for the Deaf and Dumb.
Besides textbooks, Braille books on general knowledge, music, Kannada and English grammar were being printed at the press. Books were supplied to children in primary school free of cost, while one-third of the printing cost of those supplied to high school students was collected by the press.
Sources told The Hindu that Rajneesh Goel, Principal Secretary, Women and Child Development, had reportedly asked the directorate to purchase a new machine from the budget available in the department.
The machine, which costs Rs. 90 lakh, has to be purchased from other States and thus, purchase procedures needed modification.
The directorate is apparently wondering as to under which head the machine can be purchased since it has to identify the unspent money before the financial year ends.
