100 govt websites to be differently-abled friendly soon

New Delhi, Aug 24 (PTI) Work is on to make 100 governmentwebsites differently-abled friendly and 16 such websites areready, Union Minister for Electronics & Information TechnologyRavi Shankar Prasad said today. Optical fibre measuring 1.39 lakh kms to connect villagepanchayats with internet has been laid since last two years asagainst 398 km from 2011-14 during the UPA. He claimed nearly 104 crore people, comparable to thesize of population of Italy and France, are in the ambit ofthe Aadhar and mobile connections in India since last twoyears. "What is Digital India? We are seeking to bridge thedivide between Digital Haves and Digital Have-nots," he saidwhile listing the achievements of Modi government since lasttwo years. "Of 125 crore people 104 have Aadhar card. They aredigitally verifiable. With one click, you can view your face,your iris and finger-tip. It has happened in a completelysecure condition and we have are the first ones to have donethis," Prasad claimed. He was speaking at the launch of Sugamya Pustakalaya- anonline library for persons with visual disabilities. The online library was launched by Prasad, Union HRDMinister Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Social Justiceand Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot, and his two deputiesKrishan Pal Gurjar and Ramdas Athawal. Books are available in accessible formats for people withvisual impairment and other print disabilities. People can access over two lakhs books in diverselanguages, integrating libraries across India and the globe,including the largest international library ‘Bookshare’. "We have linked ‘divyangjans’ with the common servicecentres in our country. National Informatics Centre (NIC) isin the process of making 100 Government websites ‘divyang’friendly of which 16 have already been made ‘divyang’friendly," Prasad said, as he urged NGOs and citizens to use’My Gov’ to provide valuable inputs on central schemes. Prasad said in order to help children suffering fromautism, an e-learning tool has also been developed by theNational Institute of Mentally Handicapped and all thescholarships will be under one banner. Javadekar said there are 23 lakh people special abilityunder the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. As the HRD Minister, Javadekar said, he receivesinvitations for convocations, but he has accepted the firstinvitation from the University meant for differently abled inThiruvanathapuram. Gurjar said people with special abilities don’t needsympathy of the people but deserve their love, affection andsupport. PTI PRRT