About the Institute

In order to provide equal opportunities of education, training, work and participation in social, cultural and political life, the Government of India, State Governments and the Union Territory (UT) Administrations have introduced a number of affirmative initiatives, schemes and programmes. The Government of India has also put in place an impressive legal framework, ensuring better protection and promotion of rights of persons with disabilities. The institutional arrangement put in place for training of special education teachers and rehabilitation workers, in the shape of nine National Institutes, is of great importance. Apart from undertaking HRD activities, these National Institutes are the major research bodies on disability issues. They have contributed numerous techniques and technologies facilitating equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in all walks of life.

The National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (Divyangjan) (NIEPVD) at 116, Rajpur Road, Dehradun is one of the Nine National Institutes working under the administrative control of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwDs), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, and Government of India. It was established way back in 1943 as the St Dunstan’s Hostel for the War Blinded for providing rehabilitation services to the soldiers and sailors blinded in the World War II. In 1950, the Government of India took over the St. Dunstan’s Hostel and entrusted the same to the Ministry of Education with the responsibility of developing comprehensive services for the rehabilitation of blind persons. Subsequently, services for the blind witnessed remarkable expansion. In the same year, the Government established the Training Centre for the Adult Blind to ensure reintegration of blind soldiers including other persons in the field of work. In 1951, the Government established the Central Braille Press (CBP); in 1952, the Workshop for the Manufacture of Braille Appliances (MBA); in 1954, the Sheltered Workshop; in 1957 the Training Centre for the Adult Blind Women (TCAB); in 1959, the Model School for the Visually Handicapped (MSVH) and in 1963, the National Library for the Print Handicapped (NLPH) were established.

On integration of all these units in 1967, the Government established the National Centre for the Blind (NCB). This Centre was further upgraded as the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped in 1979 and finally in October 1982, it was registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 and acquired the status of an autonomous body. The NIEPVD is undoubtedly one of the country’s prestigious institutions completing its glorious 78 years of providing rehabilitation services to the visually impaired persons.

The institute is situated in 43 acres of land surrounded by the masonry boundary wall of length about 4,500 meters and internal fencing and boundary wall of length about 500 meters. The Institute contains 99 residential quarters (including barrack type quarters), 09 non-residential buildings, 4 big hostels having a plinth area of approx 30,000 sq. meters. In addition to this, the Institute has 11,700 sq. meters of roads, water supply lines, sewerage lines, electrical supply lines, electric sub-stations, etc. in its campus.

In 2015, on the suggestion of Shri Narendera Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India in his Man ki Baat programme to use the term “Divyangjan” instead of Viklang, the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities incorporated the word Divyangjan to its original name. Accordingly, the nomenclature of all the National Institutes working under it were changed and the word Divyanjan was suffixed with their original names. Accordingly, in 2016 the name of the Institute was also changed from the National Institute for the Visually Handicapped (NIVH) to the National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (Divyangjan) (NIEPVD). This was a landmark event as the use of Divyangjan instead of Viklang is surely to bring about change in Society’s outlook towards the persons with visual disability.

1.1 FIELD SET-UP OF THE INSTITUTE

NIEPVD- REGIONAL CENTRE, CHENNAI

The Regional Centre of the Institute was established at Poonamallee, Chennai in 1988 to cater to the training and rehabilitation needs of the visually impaired population in the southern region. It plays a significant role in identifying new areas of vocational training and employment for the urban as well as rural blind persons. It also conducts research on an impressive range of issues including action research.

The Centre has a total land area of 24,300 sq. meters (6 acres). The area of various blocks is as indicated below:

• Training Block measures 761.34 sq. meters
• Administrative Block is spread over an area of 388.12 sq. meters.
• Hostel Block with Mess 1000.47 sq. meters.
• Ladies Hostel Block covers an area of 715 sq. meters

NIEPVD- REGIONAL CHAPTERS, SECUNDERABAD (TELANGANA) & KOLKATA (W. B.)

The NIEPVD Regional Chapters at Secunderabad and Kolkata were established in the campus of NIEPID (earlier NIMH) Secunderabad and NILD (earlier NIOH), Kolkata respectively in the year 1997; initially to extend peripheral services to the persons with visual impairment. These Chapters offer vocational training to persons with visual impairment, maintain Placement Cell, Extension Sales Counter for the sale and distribution of assistive devices, and provide guidance and consultancy services to State and Voluntary Agencies

COMPOSITE REGIONAL CENTRES FOR SKILL DEVELOPMENT, REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, SUNDER NAGAR, HIMACHAL PRADESH, GORAKHPUR (UTTAR PRADESH) & GANGTOK (SIKKIM)

The Institute also coordinate and supervise the Composite Regional Centers for Skill Development, Rehabilitation and Employment of Persons with Disabilities, Sunder Nagar (H.P.); Gorakhpur (U.P.) & Gangtok (Sikkim) established in the year 2001, 2018 & 2020 respectively.

1.2 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aims and objectives of the NIEPVD as stated in the Memorandum of Association (MOA) are as follows:
1. To conduct, sponsor, co-ordinate and/or subsidies research incollaboration with other NGOs and research organizations including universities into various dimensions of education and rehabilitation of the visually impaired.
2. To undertake, sponsor, co-ordinate or subsidize research into biomedical engineering leading to the effective evaluation of special appliances/instruments or suitable surgical or medical procedures or the development of new special appliances/instruments.
3. To undertake or sponsor the training of trainees and various specialized professionals including teachers, employment officers, psychologists, vocational counsellors and such other personnel as deemed necessary.
4. To distribute, promote, or subsidize the manufacture of prototypes and to manage distribution of any or all devices designed to promote any aspect of education, rehabilitation or employment of the visually impaired.