New Delhi: The Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry will organise ‘White Cane Day’ tomorrow to raise awareness about the challenges faced by visually challenged people.
The activities that started on World Sight Day on October 8 will conclude tomorrow with eye camps and public awareness campaigns being organised at various places in Delhi.
The Ministry organized an extensive awareness campaign on the occasion of World Sight Day to drive home the message of preventing ‘Avoidable Blindness’ in collaboration with Hans Foundation, the Score Foundation and other co-partners, an official statement said.
Under the campaign, volunteers from partnering NGOs set up information kiosks at five major metro stations across the capital with an eye counsellor and disturbed relevant IEC material for sensitisation and spreading public awareness.
Eye checkup and screening camps were also established at Dilshad Garden, Kabool Nagar Gurudwara and at Trilokpuri area under the supervision of ophthalmologists from AIIMS.
“There are over 16 million blind and 28 million visually impaired people in India who are often marginalised in terms of education opportunities, career opportunities or social standing as compared to their sighted counterparts.
“Due to a lack of access to information, they are often unable to lead fulfilling, independent, economic and socially productive lives. The ‘White Cane Day’ also known internationally as the ‘White Cane Safety Day’ is celebrated on October 15 every year,”.
PTI