Madhu Barnabodha in Braille soon

The Cuttack district administration is set to release the Oriya language primer ‘Madhu Barnabodha’ in Braille soon to facilitate educational material for the blind right from the elementary to secondary school stages.

The first-of-its-kind initiative to ease the visually impaired into Odia language education is in its advanced stage of production and will be launched on the occasion of Madhu Jayanti, the birthday of Utkal Gourav Madhusudan Das, on April 28.

“The cut print of the important primer into Braille is being done at the Braille Press, Berhampur. It will be ready within the next fortnight and officially launched on April 28. The books would not only be distributed among the visually challenged students of the districts, but would also be sent to all the special schools in the State”, Collector Cuttack Girish SN said.

The book of alphabets and words scripted by Bhaktakabi Madhusudan Rao is the basic text book in elementary education in Odia language. While it is being universally used by students in general schools, the visually impaired students have been deprived of it.

There are around 180 visually challenged students in the districts along with 52 special schools in the State. Two books each would be supplied to the special schools through the SSA, Cuttack.