lov Verma, secretary, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment 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 organisations 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. Herein, trained counsellors will share information, guide and connect the caller with relevant professional solutions.
Speaking on the occasion after inaugurating the Eyeway National Helpdesk by placing a live-Call to the toll free number, Secretary DEPwD lov Verma said, “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, et al. The secretary expressed hope that in future this Helpdesk will also cater to the noble cause of ‘Eye Donation’ for the needy.
Elaborating further on Project Eyeway, and the National Helpdesk, George Abraham, CEO, Score Foundation, informed that Eyeway is a single stop knowledge resource centre on life with blindness. It began as a flagship project of Score Foundation with the support of Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities and has been empowering virtually impaired people in the country by sharing information and advocating for change where required.He said that with the first of its kind partnership, Eyeway is giving the nation this National Helpdesk Toll free number, wherein 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 et al.