Uttar Pradesh Opens First Dedicated Braille Library to Promote Inclusive Education

Uttar Pradesh Inaugurates State's First Dedicated Braille Library

In a landmark move for inclusive education, Uttar Pradesh has launched its first Braille library exclusively for persons with visual impairment. Established at  Dr. Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University  in Lucknow, the facility is designed to enhance access to quality academic resources and foster greater independence and dignity among visually impaired learners.

Strategic Location and Inauguration
The library is situated on the first floor of the Swami Vivekananda Central Library within the university campus. It was inaugurated by Vice-Chancellor  Acharya Sanjay Singh , who hailed the initiative as a critical step toward realizing equal educational opportunities. The effort aligns with the vision of Chief Minister  Yogi Adityanath , who has consistently emphasized "education for all" as a fundamental governance goal.

Comprehensive and Curriculum-Aligned Collection
The library boasts a substantial collection of  over 4,000 Braille books , carefully curated to support the  54 undergraduate and postgraduate programs  offered by the university. All academic texts have been printed in-house using the university’s own Braille press, ensuring consistency in quality and direct relevance to the National Education Policy and Indian curricula. This self-reliant approach reduces dependency on external sources and guarantees timely access to essential study material.

Emphasis on Self-Reliance and Modern Skills
During the inauguration ceremony, held symbolically on the birth anniversary of  Louis Braille —the creator of the Braille script—the Vice-Chancellor paid floral tributes to the pioneer. He encouraged visually impaired students to cultivate self-reliance and confidence in their academic and professional pursuits. Furthermore, he instructed the university administration to enhance modern computer training facilities, enabling students to stay connected with mainstream education systems and contemporary employment opportunities.

Broad Community Access and Inclusion
Beyond serving enrolled students, the library extends its resources to the wider visually impaired community through casual and corporate membership options. It features a spacious reading hall capable of accommodating  over 150 individuals . By opening its doors to external members, the facility is poised to become a pivotal hub for inclusive learning and rehabilitation across Uttar Pradesh.

Key Points for Examinations:

• Uttar Pradesh’s  first dedicated Braille library  is located in  Lucknow .

• It is housed at  Dr. Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University .

• The library’s collection is aligned with the  National Education Policy .

• The Braille script was developed by  Louis Braille  for persons with visual impairment.