The National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (Divyangjan), Dehradun, in collaboration with the National Association for the Blind (NAB), New Delhi, inaugurated ‘Antar Drishti’ – a unique sensory dark room – on April 7, 2025. The facility was formally inaugurated by Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Union Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment. The occasion was graced by Ms. Manmeet Kaur Nanda, Joint Secretary, DEPwD, and Shri Pradeep Anirudhan, Director, NIEPVD.

‘Antar Drishti’ is a specially designed sensory experience space aimed at raising awareness and sensitizing society towards the challenges faced by persons with visual impairments. In this dark room, individuals experience complete darkness and engage in activities that help simulate the everyday experiences of persons who are blind or have low vision. This initiative seeks to foster empathy, understanding, and inclusion by bridging the gap between perception and lived reality.

In addition to the inauguration, the NIEPVD Dehradun signed an MoU with Amar Seva Sangam, a pioneering organization in the field of disability rehabilitation and inclusive development. The MoU was signed in the esteemed presence of Shri Rajesh Aggarwal, Secretary, DEPwD, and Ms. Manmeet Kaur Nanda, Joint Secretary, DEPwD.

Through this collaboration, NIEPVD will implement the ‘Enable Inclusion’ App —a digital platform developed by Amar Seva Sangam for early identification, intervention, and tracking of children with developmental disabilities. The app has been successfully used across various communities to support intellectual and developmental needs.

Under the agreement, NIEPVD will integrate its expertise in visual disabilities to help expand the app’s scope, making it more accessible and responsive to the needs of individuals with visual impairments. This initiative will facilitate personalized support and services through digital means, thereby enhancing the reach and effectiveness of rehabilitation interventions.

The expanded ‘Enable Inclusion’ App, with NIEPVD’s contributions, is expected to revolutionize early intervention, tele-counseling, tracking, and rehabilitation planning—setting a benchmark for inclusive practices across India and beyond. This partnership reflects the vision of DEPwD to promote technology-driven, inclusive, and accessible solutions for the empowerment and holistic development of persons with disabilities across the nation.

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