The celebrations mark the significance of invention of Braille system which enables the visually-challenged to read as well as write

Amway Opportunity Foundation, a registered non-profit organization and the corporate social responsibility arm of Amway India, celebrated Louis Braille Day in association with Bhartiya Netraheen Kalyan Parishad (BNKP) in New Delhi today. Vijay Sampla, Hon’ble Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India graced the occasion as a chief guest.

A Braille ‘Reading-Writing’ competition was organized for the junior as well as senior categories of the visually-challenged students– marking the significance of invention of Braille system which enablesthe visually-challenged to read as well as write. A debate on the ‘Need for Inclusive Education’ was also organized to celebrate 206th birth anniversary of Louis Braille. The debate was followed by a motivating speech by Ms Varsha Singh who overcame her visual disability and successfully completed herpost-graduation from Delhi University. Ms Singh spoke at the length about the life of Louis Braille.

G S Cheema, Member – Executive Committee, Amway Opportunity Foundation, said, “We have been working for the cause of the visually challenged ever since 1999 when we launched National Project for the visually challenged. Over the years, Amway Opportunity Foundation has benefitted more than 100,000 visually challenged individuals especially children. I am impressed by what I have seen today. The children made lot of pertinent points in the debate about inclusive education. I am delighted to be in the august company of such talent individuals.”

“Louis Braille is a truly inspiring example for all those who refuse to succumb to their limitations and are determined to achieve their goals. His invention – the Braille system – is an incomparable gift to the visually-challenged individuals. The six-dots of Louis Braille are the precious seeds from which intellectual harvest grows. We are indebted to Louis Braille as he led the visually-challenged to the light of knowledge andeducation,” said Ramesh Prasad Singh, General Secretary, Bhartiya Netraheen Kalyan Parishad.

The daycommenced with the students of BNKP reciting the Sarasvati Vandanaand a special song on Louis Braille and concluded with all participantsreceiving prizes as well as certificates. The winners of the debate competition were awarded with invaluable tools for visually-challenged students like auditory clock, auditory calculator, white canes etc.

Over the next week, Amway Opportunity Foundation will be organizing Louis Braille Day across 15 locations in India including Jaipur, Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Kolkata, Narendrapur, Patna, Guwahati, Mumbai, Pune, Raipur, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Madurai & Trivandrum.

Bhartiya Netraheen Kalyan Parishad is a registered NGO. Right from its inception, it has been working for the holistic and all round development of the persons with special needs especially visually impaired. Their main goal is to make each and every person with special needs self-reliant and instilling in him/ her a feeling of self-dignity and pride so that all of them can be capable of associating themselves with national mainstream and they can contribute to the development of the nation. Every year, the NGO distributes about 200 sticks and 200 blank cassettes amongst the visually impaired students during the celebration of World Disabled Day, International White Cane Day and Louis Braille birth anniversary.