World White Cane Day is observed to promote accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities and to increase public awareness of the rules of conduct for the blind. For visually impaired people, the white cane represents independence and mobility, and it is now a representation of freedom, independence, and confidence.  It helps a visually impaired person move around freely and completes daily tasks.

The Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) under Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India is the nodal department to look after all the development agenda of Persons with Disabilities of the country. With the vision to create awareness about the importance of White Cane among the masses, the Department observed the White Cane Day, through the institutions associated with it by conducting various activities like Awareness Programmes, Seminars & Webinars, Interviews and Rally at more than 30 places across the country e.g, special interviews with Ex- IIT Professor and Ex- employee of CRPF was conducted followed by a rally by NIEPVD National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities. Similarly others National Institutes, CRCs and other affiliated institutions observed the White Cane Day.

********

MG/VL/SD