Resource Centre for the Sightless in Kolkata

"Let us se the light of knowledge" is our motto. Knowledge alone can compensate for the loss of sight. Blind Persons' Association has tried to spread this message among the sightless people. Without knowledge a sightless person cannot contribute to the progress of the society and attain true social recognition.

When Professor late Nagendranath Sengupta started this organisation with a few sightless youths in 1946, their goal was setting up a common platform for exchanging their views. The members of the organisation realised in the sixties that the main problem of the sightless people lies in the lack of identity in the society. Their quest for identity can never be fulfilled unless the sightless share social responsibility with their fellow-brothers. They urged upon the members to plunge themselves into social activities. At the same time, the organisation took upon itself the task of promoting education among the sightless solely relying on patronage of the common people. The organisation has so far established three blind schools, a spice production unit and a Braille press and library facility in different districts of West Bengal.

We are planning to set up a Resource Centre as an extension counter of our existing Braille press and library facility to Kolkata to reach greater number of sightless students. Although the current Braille press and library project, Lal Bihari Shah Braille Academia, is nearing its completion, we feel that innumerable sightless persons living in or coming to Kolkata cannot fully utilize our facility on account of distance.

We propose to purchase a flat measuring about 1,200 sq. ft. near Goalpark in Kolkata for the new Resource Centre. It will contain a Braille books corner, audio and e-text library and various other services for sightless people. The location of the flat has good communication facility and it will be easily accessible to sightless people. The estimated cost of the aforesaid flat will be around Rs. 28,00,000.00 including the expected expenses for registration and related charges.

We have started a Building Fund for the same. We cannot purchase a larger accommodation owing to exorbitant price in Kolkata. Our rented office in Kolkata does not have any scope for accommodating extra facilities.

The proposed Resource Centre will have unique facilities for the sightless people, e.g.:

• A Braille books corner for purchasing Braille books for Rs. 10.00 per Braille volume
• Audio books and e-text corner for purchasing cd for Rs. 10.00
• Cybercafé with screen-reading software programme and Internet access for the sightless
• Reading services by voluntary readers
• Facility of free counseling services with practical help

We believe, as we have developed three blind schools and the ongoing Braille press and library in different districts of West Bengal with your generous patronage, we shall be able to purchase the desired flat and start the new facility.

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