Campus Times | Lucknow 

Twenty-five visually impaired students of Dr Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University (DSMNRU) received free laptops under the Empowerment through Mobility, Education and Training (EMET) programme, marking a significant step towards strengthening digital access and self-reliance among students with disabilities.

The laptops, provided in collaboration with the Help the Blind Foundation (HTBF), are valued at ₹85,000 each, taking the total assistance to ₹21.25 lakh. The devices are expected to help students access online learning resources, develop digital skills and improve their employment prospects.

Vice-Chancellor Prof. Sanjay Singh distributed the laptops during a programme held at the university. The institution and HTBF also renewed and exchanged their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to further strengthen their collaboration.

Addressing the gathering, Singh said visually impaired students at the university are already appearing for examinations with the support of digital scribes. He said digital technology can become a powerful tool for ensuring independence and equal opportunities for students with disabilities.

The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted his vision of having a team of students with disabilities participate in the Republic Day parade on January 26. He said white canes could play an important role in showcasing the confidence and capabilities of visually impaired students and send a strong message of inclusion to the world.

HTBF Trustee Radhakrishnan said the partnership aims to provide visually impaired students with technology, training and opportunities. Project Head Pooja briefed the gathering on the activities and achievements of the EMET programme.

University MoU Coordinator Dr Vijay Shankar Sharma said timely access to technology, training and guidance can enable students with disabilities to excel in diverse fields. He added that the university and foundation plan to expand their collaboration further.

Faculty members and officials, including Prof Ashutosh Pandey, Prof Yashwant Virodaya, Dr Kaushal Sharma, Dr Dinesh Kumar, Dr Pushpendra Singh, Dr Praveen Mishra and Dr Shyam Singh, along with HTBF representatives, trainers and students, attended the programme.