I've forwarded the mail to Mr Abidi Dear Javed Abidi please see the conversation/thread and it would be great if you justify your claim or offer an apology to the blind community.
On 1/19/15, AICB <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear friends, > On behalf of All India Confederation of the Blind, we condemn in the > strongest of expressions, the statement quoted to have been made by > Mr. Javed Abidi about the relevance of Braille in the context of > Government's initiatives to modernize Braille presses in the country. > The discussion in reference to this statement, so far, has largely > focused on justifying the relative merits of Braille in relation to > other technologies. To us however, apart from what has been said by > others supporting Braille, the issues underlying this discourse are > much deeper than that. > While we can debate the relative merits of a particular format of > accessibility in reference to other applicable formats used by the > visually impaired, the right to enter into a discussion of this > nature, in our view, rests solely with the visually impaired. A person > such as Mr. Javed Abidi, who has never used/read even a single Braille > book in his entire life, does not have the right to speak on this > issue. Therefore, rather than justifying the relevance of Braille > (which is a firmly established truth in the visual impairment sector), > we consider it imperative to take strong objection to a person, having > no knowledge of visual impairment sector, meddling into our affairs. > It may be noted here that AICB has the capacity of printing more than > 40000 Braille pages per day, but even this proves insufficient and our > Braille press has to often work in multiple shifts. > Similar situation may exist in the case of other Braille presses as > well. It is a well-known fact that the demand for Braille books is > much more than the present facilities and infrastructure can claim to > meet. If such facts, along with all that has so far been said > supporting Braille, are not enough to make Mr. Abidi realize the > ground situation with respect to Braille, then we can only feel sad at > his ignorance despite claiming to be in the sector for so many years. > > It is unfortunate that Mr. Abidi often speaks out of turn and on > issues about which he appears to have only little or no knowledge. The > present instance is one such example, though by no means the only one. > Some people are so keen to issue public statements and read their > names in print (as appears to be the present case) that they do not > care for the accuracy of their statement, nor do they bother about the > sensitivity of others. By issuing the most deplorable statement in > reference, Mr. Javed Abidi has not only hurt the sentiments and > interests of the blind, he has also once again proved that he has no > right to speak on behalf of the blind and represent them in any matter > and on any forum whatsoever. > > > > AICB, like many other self-help organizations of the blind, has always > believed in the philosophy of nothing about us without us. Therefore, > any attempt to speak on our behalf by those who do not belong to us, > such as Mr. Javed Abidi, must be strongly resisted and repelled in the > present and at all times to come. Even the UNCRPD (which Mr. Abidi > claims to champion by conducting workshops) advocates the voicesof > persons of applicable disabilities in formulations and > decision-making. His present statement clearly proves that Mr. Abidi > has violated this fundamental principle of UNCRPD also. > > > > While Mr. Abidi owes the visual impairment sector a public apology in > the very newspaper which published his statement, the newspaper must > also ensure that comments on issues concerning the blind must be > sought from those to whom the issues directly concern and not from the > self-styled disability activists. AICB has already written to the > 'Pioneer' newspaper about this matter. We are also writing a strong > letter of protest to Mr. Abidi's organization demanding a public > apology. > > > > Please join us in the interests of the blind. > > > > Dr. Anil K. Aneja. > > Vice President, > > All India Confederation of the Blind > > > On 1/17/15, avinash shahi <[email protected]> wrote: >> I do not think Braille is outdated as Mr Abidi quoted claiming in the >> article >> >> Better, those who have never ever used the fully developed script, and >> lack will-power to learn; refrain from spreading rumour about Braille >> through media. This script is still relevant and needs to be >> preserved and promoted. Withstanding the tsunami in technological >> advancement worldover which serves few lucky ones, Braille is an >> equaliser for majority of blind people. As printed books are never >> gonna off the hands so the case with Braille books. >> http://www.dailypioneer.com/nation/centre-no-more-blind-to-visually-impaired-funds-books-in-braille.html >> >> -- >> Avinash Shahi >> Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU >> >> Celebrating Louis Braille birthday Jan4th >> >> >> >> Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of >> mobile phones / Tabs on: >> http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Search for old postings at: >> http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ >> >> To unsubscribe send a message to >> [email protected] >> with the subject unsubscribe. >> >> To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, >> please >> visit the list home page at >> http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in >> >> >> Disclaimer: >> 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of >> the >> person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; >> >> 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails >> sent through this mailing list.. >> > > > > Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of > mobile phones / Tabs on: > http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Search for old postings at: > http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ > > To unsubscribe send a message to > [email protected] > with the subject unsubscribe. > > To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please > visit the list home page at > http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in > > > Disclaimer: > 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the > person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; > > 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails > sent through this mailing list.. > -- Avinash Shahi Doctoral student at Centre for Law and Governance JNU Register at the dedicated AccessIndia list for discussing accessibility of mobile phones / Tabs on: http://mail.accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/mobile.accessindia_accessindia.org.in Search for old postings at: http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ To unsubscribe send a message to [email protected] with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in Disclaimer: 1. Contents of the mails, factual, or otherwise, reflect the thinking of the person sending the mail and AI in no way relates itself to its veracity; 2. AI cannot be held liable for any commission/omission based on the mails sent through this mailing list..
