RTI replies now available in Braille in India
Asia-Pacific Jun 22, 2012
CHENNAI: People who are blind in the state can now get replies to their queries under the Right to Information (RTI) Act in Braille, thanks to an initiative of the state information commission with the help of the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH).
State information commissioner K S Sripathi said the programme, being done for the first timein the country, “Is expected to help more than seven lakh people with vision disabilities in the state.” He said, “We have taken up the initiative following various requests from people who are blind across the state.”
Every time the information commission receives a RTI application seeking information in Braille, the commission will prepare a reply in the printed format and forward it to the NIVH, where it will be converted into Braille. For each page of information, the application will be charged Re 1. “Initially, we planned to provide copies in Braille without any fee but financial constraints are not allowing us to provide information for free,” said Sripathi.
NIVH regional director I Arivanandham said they were very glad to be associated with the project. “The RTI has emerged as a great tool for citizens. Providing information through Braille will help people with vision disabilities fight their cause. We are trying to convert the printed format into Braille,” he said.
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