Assam blind students flag Braille shortage, ADRE barriers

The All Assam Blind Students’ Union has demanded urgent action on a series of long-pending issues affecting visually impaired students, including a shortage of Braille teachers and textbooks. Speaking at a press conference in Guwahati on Monday, the union said the lack of study materials was making it difficult for students to keep up with their education.

The union also raised concerns about competitive examinations, noting that visually impaired students do not get suitable alternatives for map-based questions in history and face difficulties in mathematics due to a lack of necessary tools. It demanded equal opportunities for visually impaired candidates in the Assam Direct Recruitment Examination (ADRE).

On higher education, the union said the 5% reservation for visually impaired students was not being properly implemented in Assam, unlike at Jawaharlal Nehru University and the University of Delhi. It also alleged that non-disabled people were availing benefits under the disability quota and urged the government to form a high-level committee to address these issues.