Bharathi Lions Talking Book Library
Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan (second left), Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, taking a look at the Bharathi Lions Talking Book Library, after inaugurating it at Nirmala College for Women in Coimbatore on Monday. Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University G. Thiruvasagam (third left) and Collector V. Palanikumar(fourth left) are in the picture. Nobody can deny that the differently abled are more abled than the normal human being, said Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan here on Monday. She was inaugurating the Bharathi Lions Talking Book Library at the Nirmala College for Women. A joint attempt of the Bharathiar University and the Lions Club International District 324 B1, the library will house audio cassettes that can be used by the visually impaired. The Minister said that it was essential to enable the differently abled, especially the visually impaired. “All that they expect from us is equal treatment and respect. They do not need our pity. Providing such facilities (library) will enable them to achieve their goals in life.” She complimented the college for having accommodated the library in their premises and having it inaugurated on the day the college entered Diamond Jubilee year. She pleaded for a philanthropic organisation to sponsor a studio that would cost Rs. 30 lakh to enable the university do its own recording of audio cassettes and compact discs for the library. Vice-Chancellor G. Thriuvasagam lamented that the technological aid that the normal students used for education could not be used by the visually impaired.
He said it was high time we accepted the fact that the visually impaired looked forward to working in normal office and intellectual surroundings, rather than the conventional cottage industry jobs. “According to a study conducted in 120 universities, it was found that only 1,635 students are visually impaired. The number should increase. Almost 83 per cent of the differently abled stay in rural areas. They are yet to receive the benefits of education, although Rs. 72,000 crore is spent on them annually. Social welfare organisations should join hands with the government to rehabilitate them,” he said.
Collector V. Palanikumar called for implementation of a need-based approach to enable the differently abled to bring out the best in them. Heeding to the Minister’s request, the incoming District Governor of the club A. Ashokshanmugasundaram guaranteed to sponsor a recording studio for the library. Outgoing District Governor of the club A. Selvaraj and Principal of Nirmala College for Women Sr. Pauline Mary spoke. The library will initially have 1,000 titles. The name of the book will be printed on the cassette in Braille to enable the candidate to choose without difficulty.
