With a view to make the Indian Constitution accessible to people from all walks of life, including the specially challenged, on the occasion of the Republic Day, this vital document of democracy was released in Braille and audio formats.

Both the formats were launched by the Orissa High Court Chief Justice S Muralidhar at the National Law University campus in Cuttack, Odisha.

The audiobook format in Odia language has been developed by the NGO VIEWS, is one of its kind to be made in any vernacular language. The NGO was supported by the Netherlands Embassy in this.

While the duration of the audio version is 16.8 hours the Braille version comprises five volumes and is in English.

Sanyas Behera, the President of Odisha Association for the Blind on the occasion said: “Students in general and especially those aspiring for competitive exams can greatly benefit out of the book. In general, the book will educate the students about their rights, values and duties as citizens of this country.”

The Vice-Chancellor of the NLU, Odisha, Professor Ved Kumar praising the initiative said: “It is heartening that the visually-impaired can finally access the Constitution- their basic statute. Such a move is truly beneficial and empowering, and more effort should be taken to publish other important books for the disabled communities both in braille and audio format.”