INDIA, April 22, 2013: The Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority’s (KSLMA) Braille Literacy Campaign, expected  to change the lives of many blind people for the better is yet to be implemented properly in the state.

Earlier, the KSLMA had said that campaign would follow the ‘Malappuram model’, deemed successful, and launch it after making the necessary amendments. However, the KSLMA is still to chart out the basic requirements of the programme. KSLMA director R Sasikumar said that efforts were being made to make the project a reality.

“There were announcements made in this regard. The KSLMA is leaving no stone unturned to implement it,” he assured.

However, Salim Kuruvambalam, chairman of the KSLMA administrative committee, said that the mission could not solve all the issues alone. “We need help from all quarters. So far, none of the district literacy missions has approached the KSLMA seeking help for launching campaigns in their respective districts. A campaign can only announce the projects. Its materialisation lies with district literacy missions and district panchayats,” he said.

Local self-governments have to play an important role in such campaigns, sources said. The Malappuram model was successfully implemented with the aid of the district panchayat. Besides, it is the district literacy missions and district panchayats that are authorised to appoint teachers. The KSLMA is yet to get any help from them in this regard,” he said.

Sources said that if the proposed campaign was launched, it could be another success story. “Following the Malappuram model, many passed the fourth, seventh and tenth equivalency programmes which helped them find jobs.” The KSLMA gave mobility training for the transportation of students in Malappuram, as most of them found it difficult to reach study centres. Besides, vocational training was also given which helped them forget their handicaps and gave them a boost,” sources added.

Sourc Indian Express