New Delhi: Gouri Sens fingers ran over the keyboard, her ears clued in to every letter uttered out loud. The latest screen reader software for the visually disabled, SAFA, was helping her type out a perfect piece.
Gauri, who had just managed a job as a Hindi stenographer at the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan, was showcasing her talent and the new software at the launch of Punarbhava, a new interactive national web portal for the disabled.
Punarbhava, an ancient Pali term for renewed being, offers a cyber space to find information, aids and appliances, research, study and discuss issues, network, and scout for jobs. The portal is a joint venture of Media Lab Asia and the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI); a reflection of a digital inclusive vision.
The portal was officially launched at New Delhi on March 12, 2008 by Smt Meira Kumar, the Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment and Dr Shakeel Ahmad, Minister of State for Communications and Information Technology.
S.N. Goswami, Managing Director and CEO of Media Lab Asia expressed his hope that the website, by being inclusive, barrier-free, and rights focused, would help meet the information needs of 30 million Indians who live with disabilities.
The need of the hour is to treat disability as a priority and not a problem, stressed RCI Chairman, Major General (Retd) Ian Cardozo, saying the disabled should have the choice to make their own destinies.
Smt Meira Kumar was emphatic that there was a need to reach out to the disabled in the most difficult and underserved areas. We have to go out to them; they will not be coming to us, she said.
She also expressed her hope that the portal will help provide employment opportunities to the disabled by enabling exchange with professionals in the field.
The event was also attended by Shri Madhavan Nambiar, Special Secretary, Dept. of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications & IT, and Ms Veena Chhotray, Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
Enabling tools
Punarbhava.in boasts of user-friendly navigation with large text options to make it practical, interactive and responsive for users. Resources in shape of documentaries, film clips, and publications will help people better understand causes of disability and manage situations.
The event also marked the release of screen reading software SAFA Screen Access For All which enables the blind to read and write on their own. SAFA is both affordable and recognises Hindi text.
SAFA has been distributed to 350 plus users, including public sector employees, school and university students, and organisations for the blind.
A Handbook on Social Welfare Statistics 2007 was simultaneously released at the event.
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