Auditory traffic signals for visually challenged soon: Minister

Bhubaneswar: The state government will soon introduce auditory traffic signal system at different intersections of the city to make it safe for the visually challenged to cross roads, Women and Child Development Minister Prafulla Samal said on Sunday.

Addressing a meeting, jointly organized by Institute of Social Work and Research (ISWAR), Bichhanda Trust of Welfare, Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD), Ananda Charitable Trust, Sight Savers to observe International White Cane Day, the minister said, “We will have adequate provision to accommodate the needs for accessibility of the visually challenged in the Bhubaneswar Smart City Mission.”

In his presidential address, ISWAR general secretary Sannyas Kumar Behera highlighted the significance of the day and said white cane is a mobility tool that gives independence by making it possible for the visually impaired persons to move around safely.

On the occasion, white canes were distributed among 300 visually challenged participants. The day also saw a white cane march led by visually-impaired cricketer Md. Jafar Iqbal and first visually-impaired OES of the state Bijayalaxmi Pal.