India’s first university dedicated to blind students will be established in Odisha, aiming to provide both educational and technical courses. With over 50 lakh blind individuals across the country, including 5.21 lakh in Odisha alone, the need for such an institution has been strongly felt. This university will be named after Bhima Bhoi, a 19th-century blind poet and social reformer. The university will also feature technical schools of excellence.
Sanyasai Behera, the blind Deputy Secretary of the Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), emphasized the necessity of this specialized university to cater to the educational and training needs of blind individuals. A recent meeting with a delegation from Japan’s University of Tsukuba, renowned for its work with the blind, further highlighted the importance of this initiative. Behera plans to submit a proposal to Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi soon.
The university will include residential facilities and an advanced digital lab. SSEPD Principal Secretary Bishnupada Sethi announced that the campus will offer education starting from class IX and will welcome students from both India and abroad. The curriculum will include vocational courses in acupuncture, physiotherapy, and policy research.
Acupuncture is part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), a centuries-old system designed to prevent, diagnose, and treat various ailments.
Physiotherapy focuses on improving bodily movement and function through physical interventions, enhancing patients’ quality of life and mobility.
Policy Research involves analyzing the policymaking process, examining the contents and outcomes of policies, and understanding their impact on social values.
The Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities has already organized 424 Bhima Bhoi Bhinnakshyama Samarthya Abhiyan camps to support disabled individuals.
