Bhubaneswar: The Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in Odisha hosted a Japanese delegation today to explore possibilities for setting up a vocational training institute or university for the visually impaired in the state.
Principal Secretary Bishnupada Sethi engaged in discussions with the delegation, led by Ryuchi Aoki, Principal of Tsukuba University, on creating employment opportunities for the visually impaired through education and training.
Tsukuba University, renowned for offering various vocational education programs to disabled students, boasts an impressive 40% employment rate of its graduates in fields like IT, engineering, and medicine. Japan’s 67 special schools provide vocational education to students, setting a precedent for Odisha’s potential initiative.
The five-member delegation, including representatives from Nihon Utkal Enterprise Services and NITKAL, met with senior officials, including Additional Secretary Sri Santosh Kumar Pradhan and Director Niyati Patnaik, who extended a vote of thanks.
This collaboration aims to empower visually impaired individuals in Odisha through education and skill development.
