You are reading one of the best blogs of India!

Every year, a small, eclectic, non commercial bunch of people get together, work hard, and release a small list - the best Indian blogs. The list is released with no fanfare. Yet, this is the list I, as a reader, wait for. Each one of these blogs is a gem, and reading each one a pleasure.

On this list, there are no blogger events, no contests, no promotions, no page rank based scores. There is only one way to make it to this list - write well, and provide good content.

Since its inception in 2011, this is the first time that the Esha blog has made it to the list!!

http://www.indiantopblogs.com/p/the-directory-of-best-indian-blogs.html?m=1

And all of us at Esha are super duper happy!!!

4 states in India already have a department dedicated to the differently abled. The rest are on their way.

http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/just-four-states-set-up-dept-to-look-after-differently-abled.html

In a meeting last week, I got to know that Telangana also has a govt aided SHG for disability. We are going to use this infrastructure to reach CLABIL to those who can benefit from it.

I think, its time for other states to play catch up. And its only a matter of time before they do.

• No new infrastructure needs to be created.

The existing District- Block and Village infrastructure of social and welfare support can be used to also provide guidance and support to the specially abled. The same staff can report data.
 

Get Braille Enabled Cards At Esha

Esha is one of the many blind NGO's in India, but they also have a special service that sets them apart.
    A significant feature of business nowadays is to rope in as many potential customers and clients as they can. India, being such a large country, has more disabled citizens than most other counties. When such a large portion of our population is disabled, business would need to expand their methods of communication so as to accommodate the needs of these people. When an employee from an organization interacts with potential clients, they tend to hand over business cards or visiting cards which contain details such as their business address, phone number, email address, and designation in the organization. Those cards are the best way to widen a customer base to those who are visually impaired. By printing the same details on a business card in braille, the customer base is widely expanded. This also subtly tells potential clients that you are playing a part in developing our community as the work of making the cards is outsourced to blind professionals, so they can earn a sustainable livelihood.
   You can get your very own braille visiting cards commissioned by Esha by clicking here. In comparison to other braille business card printers, Esha does it a very reasonable cost, as well as the fact that you would be directly contributing to the welfare of blind professionals by giving them a chance to earn a sustainable livelihood, while you get benefits in return as well.
   
To see more about how braille benefits the lives of countless visually impaired people, watch the video in the link here.

Help our community  by contributing to a blind NGO in India

Free Books in Hindi at CLABIL

Esha offers a wide array of free books in Hindi, English, and various  for the visually challenged. It is our belief that being blind shouldn't deter one's opportunities. Spread the message, for those who are visually challenged and those who aren't, we offer a wide range of online audio books for textbooks, resources, mythological stories, poems, etc. To be a part of the initiative and volunteer for Esha, click here.

384 new files added today to CLABIL

Today, we have added 384 files to CLABIL Online library - taking us from 5014 to 5398 files - just 2 short of 5400 files!

The files are in multiple languages - including Gujarati and Bengali. So go ahead, enjoy the new content!

In other news, CLABIL Outreach Program is also doing very well.. more on that later. We love reaching out to people and making them aware that such a resource exists and can be used..

Love from everyone at Esha!

Blind Walk today

Today, we did a Blind Walk at Phronesis Partners, Noida.

There were, in all, 16 participants. We used all 3 modes with them. At the end, we had a group that was lost for words. Just the way we like it. Always.

Video of the Read Fest Feedback uploaded

We don't usually get a lot of video feedbacks from our Read Fest volunteers. This one, though brief, is very straight from the heart and what really shone through was the happiness on her face right after she had done the recording.

I only saw this video today, and wanted to share it with Friends of Esha immediately..

https://youtu.be/yxEMChebWgc

Lego Style Braille Books Helps braille literacy

Braille Literacy is going down. As is general literacy. Perhaps it is a sign of our times. As audio takes over, the need to write reduces. And a communication method is only as important as the no. of users.

But braille is important. For the same reason that print is important - reading is its own joy.

Which is why such a delightful learning aid is very welcome, and very necessary:
http://mentalfloss.com/us/go/79417