The students are waiting and the software and syllabus is ready for the world’s first engineering college for the visually–impaired, but a search for suitable land to set up the multi–crore campus that could empower hundreds of special children is where the project is stuck.

An ambitious blueprint to set up an engineering college by the Devnar Foundation, with help from professors of BITS Pilani, along with 20 different digital and Braille software and initial funding arrangement is however ready.

Andhra Pradesh has 10,000 visually–impaired children below 10 years and only 2,000 manage to go to a special school, a scenario which reflects a nationwide issue, prompted Devnar Foundation, which also runs the world’s biggest blind school.

Since eight students from their school completed engineering from mainstream engineering colleges and one is doing further studies in Boston, Devnar’s ophthalmologist founder A Sai Baba Goud decided to propose erecting an engineering college.

Goud says visually–challenged students often encounter pervasive and ongoing discrimination and lack of facilities.

Disabled flyers can’t be turned down
Mumbai: Domestic and international airlines based in India will soon be unable to turn down passengers with physical or mental impairment. The aviation regulator has made a draft that attempts to make air travel possible and less stressful for passengers with special needs.

The draft, applicable also on aircraft charter operators, has been uploaded on the DGCA website and is open for comments till July 31, after which it will be made mandatory for airlines.