Kutch introduces India’s first civil defence braille training module for the visually impaired
Updated: May 5th, 2025
The Civil Defence Office of Kutch district launched a Gujarati braille module for civil defence training in a first-of-its-kind move aimed at including visually impaired persons in disaster preparedness, as per officials.
The module was introduced during a training session held on 30 April in Bhuj, where over 150 differently abled students and staff of Navchetan Andhjan Mandal received basic training in civil defence practices.
The initiative, aligned with the 2019 National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) guidelines on disability-inclusive disaster risk reduction (DiDRR), reportedly included modules on first aid, fire safety, emergency ambulance services, and women’s helplines.
The braille materials were developed using the Duxbury Braille Translator and made available through devices like Orbit readers, while sign language support and accessible EPUB versions were also provided.
Deputy Controller of Civil Defence, Dhaval Pandya, stated that Hindi and English versions of the module are being prepared to be shared with state and national civil defence authorities.
He reportedly added that such steps mark progress toward an inclusive civic framework and called the training “a marker towards an equitable society”.
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