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New Delhi, August 24: People with low vision/blindness can now access 2.3 lakh books online through a digital library specially crafted for people suffering from print disability.
The digital library christened ‘‘Sugamya Pustakalaya’’ was launched here Wednesday to help people who are incapable of reading printed books. The portal which hosts 2,33,095 books on its site can be digitally downloaded for reading on computers through screen readers.
The portal also gives the users the power to download audio books uploaded on the site, read the books directly from the site through computer software.
The same could be accessed by users through smartphones, tablets and Daisy players.
The users can also request Braille copies of books through member organisations that have Braille presses.
Law and justice minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, human resources development minister Prakash Javadekar and minister of social justice and empowerment Thawarchand Gehlot jointly launched the programme organised here.
The users can read books through the portal from
various sections like art,
culture, science and fiction in different Indian languages.The same could be used to access different
textbooks while the portal available at-sugamyapustakalaya.in could be used
to access digital books
from libraries across
the country.
Launching the dedicated portal, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, “The government has been seeking to bridge the digital divide in the country and this is an attempt in this direction. We have planned to digitally educate six crore people in the next three years. I also want the startups to work towards formulating products and technologies to help the disabled overcome hurdles.”
Javadekar said, “We are providing support and resources so that people with disabilities are not left behind. We have ordered the existing and upcoming schools to make sure their campuses are made disable-friendly.”
According to the 2011 Census, India is home to
53 lakh visually impaired population and less than
1 per cent of books are accesible to them in the country due to lack of technological intervention.