Secretary,
Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Shri Lov Verma,
formally launched the ‘Eyeway National Helpdesk’ for the blind and visually
impaired at the Department Headquarters in Paryavaran Bhawan. Eyeway National
Helpdesk is an initiative of Score Foundation with support from the Department
and other organizations like Essel Foundation, Tech Mahindra Foundation and the
Hans Foundation. Now visually impaired citizens of India will be able to call
the Eyeway Helpdesk on a toll free number, 1800-300-20469, and get queries
addressed. Here in, trained counsellors will share information, guide and
connect the caller with relevant professional solutions.
Secretary, DEPwD addressing the
media after the launch of Eyeway National Helpdesk 1800-300-20469
Speaking on the
occasion, Secretary DEPwD Shri Lov Verma said that “Blind and visually impaired
people are potentially part of the Human Resource of the country.” The
Secretary informed the gathering that a toll-free “Help Desk/Help Centre” is
being developed by the Department in association with NICSI through Business
Process Outsourcing (BPO) for dissemination of Information relating to Persons
with Disabilities (PwDs), tracking and handling grievances, facilitating the
aspirations and needs for PwDs such as skilling/employment, etc. The Secretary
expressed hope that in future this Helpdesk will also cater to the noble cause
of ‘Eye Donation’ for the needy.
Eyeway is a single
stop knowledge resource centre on life with blindness. It has been empowering
virtually impaired people in the country by sharing information and advocating
for change where required. In this National Helpdesk Toll free number, anyone
across India can call in for information and get their queries addressed in
their regional languages - be it regarding living life with blindness,
counselling, advocacy, personal or legal matters, government schemes and
programs, employment or education, about making an accessible environment etc.
Shri Awanish Kumar Awasthi, Jt.
Secretary, DEPwD addressing the media after the launch of Eyeway National
Helpdesk 1800-300-20469
Expressing his
happiness over the inauguration of this Helpdesk Service, Joint Secretary,
DEPwD, Shri Awanish Kumar Awasthi said that the Department remains committed
towards involving stakeholders – both public and private - to spread awareness
and provide relief and support to PwDs. Saying that this unique initiative will
be a precursor to many such Helplines, Mr Awasthi offered the Department’s
support to such efforts.
Mr Mukesh Jain, Joint
Secretary, DEPwD, added that it is often due to lack of access to information
that people with visual impairment are often marginalised and they are unable
to lead fulfilling, independent, economic and socially productive lives. He
emphasised that ‘Universal Accessibility’ is the need of the hour and informed
the audience that it is with this motive that the Department has launched its
nationwide flagship campaign - ‘Accessible India Campaign’ which targets
‘Accessibility’ in built-environment, Public Transport and Information
Communication Technology.
Shri Mukesh Jain, Jt. Secretary,
DEPwD addressing the media after the launch of Eyeway National Helpdesk
1800-300-20469
The Eyeway Helpdesk
Toll-free number has been based on cloud technology, and this helps leverage
faster deployment and change intervention, handling high call volumes,
real-time monitoring & reporting, integration of CRM database and easy
scalability. Calls will be routed to the nearest Helpdesk agent as per the
origin of the call mapped basis the geography/predominant language defined. In
the next three years more organisations from other parts of India will be
invited to join in the network to strengthen the capability of the helpdesk to
connect with people, and provide solutions relevant to their respective region
and culture.
AK